"DÌDI (弟弟)" (2024)

...BOOM!

Through handheld, compressed, lo-fi video, we see a mailbox explode, shattering the perfect calm of a tranquil suburb. Scraps of wood and metal fly everywhere.

FAHAD MAHMOOD, 13, confident, cool, young Casanova (or-so-he- thinks), and JIMMY KIM, 13, aka SOUP, a loose cannon of untamed emotion, cackle as they run away.

The front door swings open. MRS. MILLER, 60s, curmudgeon-y old lady, runs out and chases them.

Chaos through the lens. A total visual blur.

As they run, the filmer turns the camera around, revealing CHRIS WANG, or WANG-WANG, 13, an observant, impressionable brace-faced boy in search of an identity -- laughing, yelling, fueled by adrenaline -

- and FREEZE on this image of Wang-Wang, blurry and happy. As soon as it does, MUSIC BLASTS -- and we’re off.

Wang-Wang cracks the door open and enters a disheveled teenage wonderland. Piles of clothes and half-packed moving boxes swallow the floor. BAND POSTERS plaster the walls alongside wallet-prom photos and mall photoshoots.

In them, VIVIAN, 17, beaming, a lowkey scenester on the cusp of adulthood, eager to leave behind this chapter of her life.

Wang-Wang rummages around as if it’s his room. OPENING CREDITS accompany the following sequence:

-He opens drawers - a cornucopia of random stuff: movie stubs, empty red envelopes, a LIVESTRONG band! He takes it.

-He picks up a pair of GIRL JEANS. Wrangles himself into them. Checks himself out in a FULL-SIZED mirror. Strikes a few poses. Pretending to be hot and sexy -- just weird.

CLOSE on a series of PAINTINGS, mostly still life and clouds.

WIDE to reveal an artful mess, canvases and art pieces all around. A makeshift studio in the corner of a bedroom.

CHUNGSING, early 50s, Wang-Wang’s mother and an empathetic, artistic, but poorly-assimilated Taiwanese immigrant takes off her smock and drapes it on her easel. She exits.

BACK IN VIVIAN’S BEDROOM

-Wang-Wang tech-decks off a stack of textbooks while a YOUTUBE VIDEO of local skaters titled ‘510skateboading - FMT locals.’ plays on Vivian’s computer screen.

In the video are: DONOVAN, 17, hometown hero, dirt-stained clothes, shoelace-belt, NUGGET, 14, a happy-go-lucky skate rat, and CORY, 16, unkempt, hella chill -- remember them.

-A marked up Chinese Calendar with important appointments and reminders hangs on the wall. Today’s date: July 28th, 2008.

-Chungsing dons an apron. Knots it tight around her waist.

-She prepares ingredients for dinner: chopping vegetables and poultry; beating eggs; washing rice.

IN VIVIAN’S BEDROOM

-On the bed, Wang-Wang lies on his back, trying kick-ups. Failing.

-Wang-Wang shuffles through Vivian’s iPod Nano, earbuds in. A catalog of the alt-emo hits: Boys Like Girls, Cute Is What We Aim For, Paramore, The Maine, The Starting Line. etc.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 3.

-Chungsing sets up the dining table, Chinese newspaper trivets and food mats of old magazines.

IN VIVIAN’S BEDROOM

-Wang-Wang spots a UCSD COLLEGE SWEATER on the floor. Auditions it in front of him in the mirror. It’s a bit small, but he likes it.

Then, through the mirror, the bedroom door SWINGS open.

VIVIAN WANG-WANG

CHRIS, GET OUT OF MY ROOM AHHH! BEFORE I STICK MY FOOT UP YOUR A-!!!

DÌ DI

TITLE CARD: 弟弟

A Chinese game show plays on the television.

Chungsing’s finished dishes sit steaming on the dinner table, along with a mound of Zong Zi. Seated around are Chungsing, NAI NAI, 80, Chungsing’s mother-in-law, a round ball of energy and attitude, Vivian, exuding an air of angst opposite from her wall photos -- her skin chapped with eczema patches beneath her colorful PARAMORE band tee -- and Wang-Wang, eating with a fork.

One seat remains noticeably empty.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi.]

弟弟 .

(beat)

(beat)

[Didi. Eat a little more.]

弟弟 . 再吃⼀點.

Nai Nai grabs some food and plops it in Wang-Wang’s bowl.

奶奶，我不要，我不要，我不- *

don’t want it I don’t want -]

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 4.

She drops it in there anyways. Wang-Wang sighs. *

NAI NAI NAI NAI *

[You’re too skinny. Boys need

你太瘦了!男孩需要多吃才能⻑肌⾁ .

to eat more in order to have muscle so they can become a 也才能變成⼀個(強壯)的男⼦漢呀! strong man.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Nai Nai, don’t feed him. He

奶奶.不要餵他，他可以⾃⼰挾.

can grab it himself.]

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Look how skinny he is! If I

看看他有多瘦? 如果我不餵他，誰餵?

don’t feed him, who will? Not you. If it weren’t for me 難道是妳嗎? he’d starve to death.]

如果不是我，他早就餓死了 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(ignoring; to Vivian)

還有⼀個多⽉，我的⼩⿃就要⾶⾛了.

[Only one more month until my little bird flies away, hmm?]

Vivian’s head is down -- glued to a thick chapter book.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Don’t forget to eat fruit.

不要忘記吃⽔果哦，它會幫助你的消化

It will help your digestive system so your poop isn’t so 系統，讓你的⼤便不⾄於那麼硬 . hard.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[And floss. You must floss.

還有，⽤⽛線，你⼀定要⽤⽛線.

You won’t be able to see a dentist as easily in 妳去⼤學就沒有那麼容易看⽛醫了 . college.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[He doesn’t know yet.]

他還不知道.

Wang-Wang glances up at the empty seat.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Didi, when you go to

弟弟，以後你唸⼤學，不要跑那麼遠 ,

college, don’t go so far. Just go to Stanford. You can 就去 Stanford. live at home and I can cook

這樣你就可以住在家裡，我也可以煮飯

for you if I haven’t died yet.] 給你吃 ,如果我還沒死 .

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Nai Nai. Don’t talk like

奶奶 . 別那樣說啦 .

that.]

Wang-Wang shoots Vivian a look. Vivian glances up.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Vivian. Don’t be loud.]

Vivian. 講話不要那麼⼤聲 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi! Apologize.]

弟弟!道歉.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 6.

Vivian grabs her chopsticks and CHUCKS it at Wang-Wang. It bounces off his body, leaving dabs of oil stains on the sweater.

VIVIAN CHUNGSING

IT’S MY SWEATER. VIVIAN.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?!]

他們在說什麼 !?

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[What is] bitch?

什麼是 bitch?

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(to both of them)

不要說髒話! *

[DON’T SAY DIRTY WORDS!]

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 7.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[BOTH OF YOU, STOP

你們兩個， STOP YELLING!!!

YELLING!!!]

Everyone talking over everyone. A cacophony of noise.

Then, Nai Nai SLAMS the table. The whole family glances over.

Beat. Shock. Quiet.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Look. What kind of mother

看哪 .什麼樣的媽媽可以讓她們⼩孩的

allows their children to behave like this? You should ⾏為像這樣？妳真應該讓我來教養他們 really just let me raise

. 這個家太吵了，就是個動物園 .

them. This house is chaos. It’s a zoo.]

Chungsing strikes a look at Nai Nai, but holds her tongue.

Vivian gets up.

As she storms off, she swipes Wang-Wang’s beanie off his head.

Wang-Wang rushes off after Vivian.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Vivian! Dishes!]

Vivian! 把碗拿⾛. *

Nai Nai rushes off after Wang-Wang, grabbing his plate.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Didi! You didn’t finish

弟弟 ! 你還沒吃完呢！

eating!] *

Chungsing sighs, alone. The game show echoes.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 8.

Dual sinks. One cluttered with female toiletries, one not.

Wang-Wang rages in, past the sinks straight to the toilet.

Then, backtracks.

He scans the toiletries. Grabs Vivian’s LOTION. He unscrews the top, pees a little bit in it. Screws the cap back on. Shakes. Puts it back. Goes to toilet.

Wang-Wang skates, recording himself. We see all this from the POV of his camera, resting on the ground.

He practices an ollie. Pop, slide, fall. Dozens of tries. A few false successes -- lands on the board, slips out. Sweatier and sweatier with each attempt.

Finally, he lands one. It’s sloppy, but a land is a land.

Just as he celebrates, Chungsing opens the garage door, visible in the clip.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[You can’t exercise right

吃完飯不要⾺上運動!對胃不好! *

after eating! It’s bad for your stomach!]

WANG-WANG * MOM. ARE YOU SERIOUS? GO AWAY. YOU JUST RUINED MY CLIP.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Don’t put the camera on the

別把相機放地上! It’s a bad

ground!] It’s a bad angle. [Your composition will be angle. 你的 composition ugly.]

會很醜 .

He groans.

Ding. Ding. Ding-ding-ding. A series of AIM message notifications pierce the audio-

WIDE to reveal that we’re on a computer screen -- Windows, Mozilla Firefox, flashing AIM notifications in the toolbar, a YouTube video titled “first ollieeee”

In the description:

sketchyyyy but first. bitchass mom ruined the clip. watch high defffffff tags: burrito poop skate tre flip smosh cool blah boobs ass jessica alba bukkake

Another ding. An AIM tab with new notifications flashes at the bottom of the screen. Wang-Wang glides his cursor over. Clicks on it, opening a chat box.

fahadtheg0d: i just gave myself a ballcuzzi lol fahadtheg0d: tied lik seven straws 2gether fahadtheg0d: felt so weird

He types:

bigwang510: lol i told u fahadtheg0d: lol so yuo comin to this party tmrw or wha?

Wang-Wang types:

naah i cant

But before he hits enter:

fahadtheg0d: heard madis gna be there fahadtheg0d: ;)

Wang-Wang stares at that last message...BACKSPACES, then:

rly? how do u know

bigwang510: lollol dude idc

Wang-Wang’s cursor rushes to the toolbar. Types in “My” and clicks the second option in the auto-complete results.

It’s the MYSPACE PAGE of a girl named MADI, 14, hapa, but very white-passing -- the rare kinda-nerdy but popular Freshman. Her page is decorated with colorful HTML stickers, emo boy bands, and anime references. Last login: 03/16/08.

Her Myspace song immediately starts blasting. Wang-Wang glides his cursor over. Clicks pause.

He scrolls around her page. Friends. Comments. He hovers over her MUSIC interests for a beat: Daphne Loves Derby, Forever the Sickest Kids, Hellogoodbye!, Mayday Parade, Paramore -- similar taste as Vivian.

He clicks through her pictures: high-angle SELFIES, mirror selfies with an LG CHOCOLATE phone. Captions like “pc4pc? <3”.

Ding. Wang-Wang clicks the notification box.

fahadtheg0d: maybe u can finaly get ur dw b4 high school starts lol bigwang510: dw? fahadtheg0d: dick wet fahadtheg0d: but furreal just talk to her she fshooo has yellow fever fahadtheg0d: WANGWANGSKEETSKEEEEET

Wang-Wang clicks out. Scrolls around her page. Relationship status. His cursor hovers over: single.

Wang-Wang quietly shuffles through Vivian’s dirty laundry hamper, Vivian still asleep in her bed. He digs...and...bingo. Pulls out a PARAMORE BAND TEE.

Wang-Wang lies in a dentist’s chair, mouth wide open. He groans as his ORTHODONTIST, 50s, operates a couple metal sticks in his mouth. Chungsing beside him, snapping photos.

OMITTED

Wang-Wang and Fahad, post up at a picnic table by little league baseball fields, sippin’ Big Gulps and snacking on sunflower seeds and Slim Jims.

Wang-Wang shakes his head.

Wang-Wang shakes his head. Flashes his teeth, lined with light purple colored braces.

They laugh. All of a sudden -

Soup emerges from across the street, violently pointing and screaming.

Fahad looks down: camo shorts.

Thumbs up from Wang-Wang. They leave their snacks and bounce.

Wang-Wang trails behind Soup and Fahad as they walk along the sidewalk. He tries to listen in on their conversation.

We linger on Wang-Wang as he listens for a chance to jump in.

Back to minding his own business.

This time, Fahad and Soup crack up together. Wang-Wang, left out, feigns laughter.

13-year olds of all different backgrounds parade around. Cannonballs into the pool. Flipping in the JUMP HOUSE. Super soakers. Spitting water in each other’s mouths.

HARDEEP, 13, top down fresh to death in Jordan Bred 4’s, storms in front of the boys as they enter.

Fahad shoots Soup a look: got your back. Soup: SMH.

Hardeep drags Fahad away. Wang-Wang and Soup follow.

They rush toward JADE and ELLIE, both 13, high-achieving girls from the sister school.

Ellie laughs. Gives Hardeep the finger.

Hellos. Head nod from Wang-Wang. Peace signs from Soup: v ^_^ v

Wang-Wang just stands there, sidelined, as the pair(s) flirt, Then, he spots Madi, walking toward the snack table. He stares, clearly infatuated.

Wang-Wang marches away. Breathe in. Breathe out. He swerves around people, one goal in sight: Madi.

As Wang-Wang steps behind Madi and a TEENAGE BOY, scanning the assortment of snacks, the world reverts back to normal. He just...stands there.

Seconds go by, feels like minutes, when Wang-Wang’s phone finally rings and a recording of Madi’s Myspace song plays.

She doesn’t notice. Stuffs a mini hot dog in her mouth. Wang- Wang inches closer...

Wang-Wang watches her run off. He picks up the phone.

Around the house, kids play GUITAR HERO in one room, CHUBBY BUNNY in the kitchen, some boys just sit around flapping their cheeks together -- a very odd sight.

In the LIVING ROOM, Fahad commands the attention of a SMALL CROWD seated around him with gusto.

As Fahad performs, Wang-Wang turns and spots Madi and Georgia, joining the crowd. He stares, hoping she looks back......nothing.

Everyone laughs, including Madi. Wang-Wang notices. He looks up at Fahad -- animated, poised, emanating charm –- everything he isn’t.

Everyone huddles together, watching the film SUPERBAD.

Wang-Wang is sandwiched between Jade & Fahad and Soup & Ellie, both huddled together but definitely not cuddling.

Wang-Wang scurries away.

Wang-Wang rushes over, knocks on the door.

Then, the door swings open. Madi.

Vivian’s Paramore shirt -- it worked!

Madi turns. Georgia, seated in front of a computer.

His heart almost beating out of his chest. :O

Wang-Wang, dangling on the edge of the bed. He steals glances at Madi as she and Georgia record a video to someone’s Facebook, their voices high on helium.

They blow kisses to the camera.

GEORGIA MADI (CONT’D)

Muah!! Muah!

They stick their tongues out to the camera. Throw peace signs up. Duck lips.

Stops recording. Posts to Facebook. Drops the performance. Wang-Wang just...there. Observes.

She hands him the helium balloon. Wang-Wang inhales.

Beat.

GEORGIA MADI

I liked Horner. Yeah, Horner was fun.

Madi and Georgia could give a shit, but Wang-Wang’s heart pounds, nervous he said the wrong thing.

They laugh. Wang-Wang laughs too, happy to play along.

Then, his phone rings: Fahad.

He silences his phone.

Wang-Wang doesn’t move. He looks like he’s paralyzed.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 21.

He scoots around to the other side of the bed so his back is facing the girls. He shimmies his pants around. Leaves.

On Wang-Wang’s computer screen: CLOSE on a small tab that reads 1994...then the cursor slowly glides down a drop-down menu and clicks 1990. WIDE to show Wang-Wang creating a FACEBOOK profile.

弟弟 !

弟弟 !!!

Back to Facebook. He scans the page. Glides his cursor back up to a previous inquiry he already answered:

I am: in college / graduate school at a company in high school none of the above

弟弟 !!! 來吃飯 !

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[MOM. I ALREADY HEARD YOU.]

[媽媽 . 我已經聽到了 .]

He clicks ‘in high school.’ instead. Then, BZZZZ. Wang-Wang’s phone vibrates. He answers.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 22.

⼲嘛 .

弟弟 . 快來吃飯 . 在等菜就冷了 .

food will get cold.]

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG *

[I KNOOOW.]

我知道 .

He hangs up. Back on Facebook, he glides his cursor over to:

‘Sign Up.

CLICK -- then BOOM. The bedroom door bursts open. Vivian charges in.

She runs straight up to Wang-Wang and SMACKS him on the head.

She storms out.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[MOM!!!!!]

媽媽 !!!!

A peaceful morning. Nai Nai hangs laundry and does her morning stretches -- Wang-Wang accompanies her, stretching along, but also filming. *We see the following through his camera’s POV.*

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 23.

NAI NAI NAI NAI *

[One - two - three - four.

⼀-⼆ - 三-四 . ⼆ - ⼆ - 三-

Two - two - three - four.] (beat) 四 . [Old people can’t afford to (beat) fall! So we have to stretch

⽼⼈不能摔跤!

and stay active.]

所以我们要盡量做運動。

Wang-Wang steps closer to her. Camera close to her face.

哎呀!不要那麼近 . 我太醜啦!

ugly!]

He shoves the camera in her face. Nai Nai points at him.

Her English is beyond charming.

Chungsing sits in front of an easel, painting. She leans in close. Transfixed. Her happy place.

CLOSE on details of the painting. Saturated earth tones grazed by delicate brushstrokes. Finishing touches.

She dips her paintbrush in a jar of water, sits back and looks at the work. Pleased. She smiles.

ON WANG-WANG’S COMPUTER SCREEN: a YouTube video titled “unco same gets jacked” of a BUFF ASIAN MALE, late 20s, telling a story about how he got jacked at a gas station. He feigns a thick, stereotypical broken Asian accent, periodically interrupted by “hood” language spoken in perfect english.

KNOCK KNOCK. Before Wang-Wang answers, the door cracks open.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi.]

弟弟 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Just come to see you.]

就是想來看看你。

(clocking his beanie)

(clocking his beanie)

[My little Santa.]

我的聖誕⼩公公。

Chungsing walks in holding her painting.

你能幫我看⼀眼嗎？

something?]

She shows Wang-Wang the painting: it’s a portrait of him and Vivian at the beach when they were young, splashing in the water. Objectively, it’s beautiful.

你覺得怎麼樣？我 submit到 Nationa

submitted it to the National art competition.] l的 art competition.

Wang-Wang takes it in. His eyes scanning from the details of the ocean, to Vivian’s joyful expression, to himself.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[What? Why stupid?]

什麼？怎麼會 stupid？

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 25.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[So you like it?]

所以，你喜歡嘍 ?

Chungsing smiles. Good enough for her.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING *

[What are you watching?]

你在看什麼?

She watches along.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Ai-ya. His mouth is so

哎呀 . 他的嘴好髒啊 . 不要跟他學 ,

dirty. Don’t copy him, okay? Remember what I always tell okay? 記住我常跟你講的: you: your mouth is for saying

你的嘴巴是⽤来说好话 .

good words. Your hands are for doing good deeds.] 你的⼿是⽤来做好事的 .

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG *

[Stop nagging me.]

不要讲我 .

CLICK. Pause. Quiet. Chungsing just stands there, looking at Wang-Wang. Smiles.

你看我幹嘛 .

for.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I can’t look at you?]

我不能看你嗎 ?

Beat. Chungsing shoves her face in front of Wang-Wang’s, directly in his line of sight.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING *

[I’m looking at you! I’m

我在看你 !! 我在看你 !

looking at you!]

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 26.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG *

MOM, STOP!!! [You’re so

MOM, STOP!!! 你很烦哪 !

annoying!]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(laughing)

你要我中午帮你买个便当嗎？

[Do you want me to bring home a bento box for lunch?] *

OMITTED

Summer in full swing. BOYS playing basketball; FAUX-DANCERS filming themselves C-walk; a group of GIRLS taking photos on their DIGITAL CAMERAS -- Madi is here.

Wang-Wang, Yan Yans in hand, runs up to a circle of boys, mostly 13, going body shots -- a mini fight club. Some of them are in post-practice LITTLE LEAGUE attire -- Soup and Fahad included. Some wield their camera phones, recording.

Inside the circle are Soup and another boy, TYSHAWN, 13, pounding on each other. Tyshawn lands a few good punches on Soup, hands up on guard.

Then, all of a sudden, Soup goes APESHIT and starts swinging uncontrollably, almost moshing. A human helicopter, but he hits. PA-PA-PA-PA. Arm. Rib. Arm. Chest.

Tyshawn retreats and resigns. The crowd of boys jeer. Soup kneels next to Wang-Wang and Fahad.

Another kid, COLIN, 13, lanky poser-white-boy-gangster, enters the ring. Throws off his shirt.

Wang-Wang, frozen.

Soup SHOVES him in. It’s on.

Tyshawn jumps in as referee as Wang-Wang and Colin throw their hands up. The crowd cheers.

The crowd laughs. The commotion draws some people over -- Wang-Wang sees Madi and her girl gang running over.

He locks eyes with Madi -- she shoots him a thumbs up.

Colin, fists up, circles around. Wang-Wang follows. Gulps.

Every step Colin takes toward Wang-Wang, he retreats a step. His body touches the edge of the crowd. Colin closes in...then Wang-Wang BOLTS to the other side. Cat and mouse.

Colin stretches his eyes back into slits. Cheap shots.

Wang-Wang steals a glance at Madi, cheering...

He steps toward the middle...tries to SLAP Colin. Just barely scratches his nose.

Wang-Wang keeps his guard up...eyes Colin up and down...

Then, he DROPS to the floor. Colin lets his guard down.

Then, immediately HOPS back up, drops again. Rolls.

Then, like a ninja, he LUNGES at Colin, tackling him and wrangling him around -- their lanky bodies make it look like a weird dry-hump. Everyone looks confused.

Colin wrestles Wang-Wang off him. As his grip slips off, Wang- Wang, vision obstructed, BITES Colin on the nipple.

In a burst of adrenaline, he SHOVES Wang-Wang off him, then aimlessly backhand swings -

- CLOCKING Wang-Wang in the eye.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 29.

Chungsing rubs a hot boiled egg around a blueberry-colored ring surrounding Wang-Wang’s eye as he watches a lo-fi recording of the fight on his phone.

Nai Nai looms nearby, worried.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Egg is good for your face.

雞蛋對你的臉好 . 純天然的 .

It’s natural. Can suck out the bruise.] 能吸收淤 ⻘.]

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[After you’re finished, you

敷 完了，還能吃 掉它 .

can eat it too. Good for your cholesterol.] 對你 膽固醇 有好 處.

Beat. Wang-Wang eyes them both like they’re nuts.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING *

[Why were you guys fighting?]

你們為什麼 打架 ?

Wang-Wang exits the video. A text from Fahad: rofl pwnd

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[We were just playing.]

我們 只 是在 玩 .

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 30.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[PLAYING!? THIS IS PLAYING!?

玩 !? 這哪裡是 玩 !?

(to Chungsing)

(to Chungsing)

[See? You let them go out and this happens. Children are 你看 ? supposed to be playing with

你 任由 他們 出 去 玩，這就是 下場 。

crickets by the creek and your son’s fighting like a ⼩孩⼦們就應該在 河邊玩蟋蟀 。你 兒 ⼦ gangster! If the police sees,

卻 像流氓 ⼀樣 打架 !

they’re going to think you beat him and take him away! 如果 警察 看到了，他們⼀定覺得你家 暴 He’s gonna go blind and then

他 ,

he won’t be able to get into college or get a good job 然後把他 帶⾛！他眼 睛 會瞎掉 ，然後不 which means he won’t be able

能去 念 ⼤學， 找 不到好 ⼯作 ，那就 討 不

to find a beautiful wife to have children with and the 到 漂亮 ⽼ 婆， ⽣ 不了⼩孩，也不能 延續 Wang family legacy is over!] *

王 家⾹⽕ !

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Nai Nai. You’re too

奶奶 . 你太 誇張 了 .

dramatic.]

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Ai-ya. My son would never

哎呀 .我 兒 ⼦如果在這，是 絕 對不會 允

let this happen if he were here.] 許 這種 事 發⽣ 的 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(snapping back)

可 惜他不在這 .

[Well, he’s not here.]

NAI NAI NAI NAI

(ignoring, to Wang-Wang)

弟弟 . 痛 不 痛？

[Didi. Does it hurt?]

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Nai Nai.] No.

奶奶 . No.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[You pesky kids.]

你們這 些惹 是 ⽣⾮ 的孩⼦ .

Nai Nai storms out. Chungsing sighs.

Wang-Wang studies his mother as she gently massages the egg around his eye.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi. Does it hurt?]

弟弟 . 會不會 痛 ?

Chungsing brushes her fingers around the edges of the bruise. He winces.

She sighs. Hands him the egg.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Press it against your eye.

按 在眼 睛 上. 別動它 .

Don’t remove it.]

Wang-Wang grabs it. Looks at the egg...then takes a bite.

弟弟 !

(sighs)

(sighs)

[Such a stubborn boy.]

這孩⼦真 固執 .

He chews, then, his phone vibrates. He looks down and reads a text...and ever so slightly, a smile.

ON WANG-WANG’S COMPUTER SCREEN: CLOSE on photos of Madi as Wang-Wang clicks through her Facebook pics.

AIM notifications DING. He clicks open a CHAT WINDOW. Incoming messages from MeowwwitsMadix3.

MeowwwitsMadix3:how’s your eye? bigwang510: umm black hahah MeowwwitsMadix3:LOLOLOL awhh. MeowwwitsMadix3:pretty gangstaaah’ not gunna lie! MeowwwitsMadix3:at least it’ll fade before yearbook photos! MeowwwitsMadix3:I’m glad you’re okay though. MeowwwitsMadix3:(:

Wang-Wang stares at the “(:”. His heart flutters.

He types back: thx <3...thinks for a beat. Deletes the heart...

<3 :) :P. ENTER.

bigwang510: thx :P bigwang510: water you dewin?

MeowwwitsMadix3 is typing.

MeowwwitsMadix3: looking for a movie to watch! MeowwwitsMadix3: any sugestions?

MeowwwitsMadix3: suggestions*

Wang-Wang watches the cursor blink...then: idea.

He rushes his mouse back over to her Facebook profile. Clicks out of her profile picture, back to her page.

Quickly scrolls down the page, past About Me, Interests, Favorite Music, Favorite Quotes...

Bingo: Favorite Movies.

Wang-Wang hovers his cursor over the ones listed. Stops... A Walk To Remember.

He clicks back to the AIM chat window:

bigwang510: have you seen a walk to remember?

Beat. MeowwwitsMadix3 is typing...

MeowwwitsMadix3:omg! are you srs? MeowwwitsMadix3:that’s like my #1 fav movie everr

a bigwang510: i love it

bigwang510: its helllllla good MeowwwitsMadix3:REALLY? MeowwwitsMadix3:i feel like most guys don’t like it!

Wang-Wang stares at her last message...types: why?

He rushes his cursor to a new tab. CLICKS. Google homepage.

In the search bar, he types: a walk to remember. ENTER.

He takes in all the keywords and images that scream CHICK FLICK: romance, melodrama, images of Shane West nuzzling Mandy Moore, feeling movies, NICHOLAS. SPARKS.

A new AIM message notification DINGS.

Wang-Wang glides his cursor back to Madi’s chat box. CLICK. He sees a new message that makes his heart skip a beat.

MeowwwitsMadix3: i guess you’re not like most guys <3

Wang-Wang stares at this message for what feels like a lifetime.

Chungsing scrubs the oil stain on the UCSD sweater underneath hot running water. The sink steams. The oil barely rubs off.

She adds more soap. Scrubs aggressively. Tougher and tougher.

Chungsing sneaks in. The warm glow of the hallway light peeks in. Wang-Wang, fast asleep.

Chungsing drapes the sweater on his chair. Before she leaves, she takes a beat to observe Wang-Wang. Quiet and peaceful.

CLOSE on the Chinese Calendar. A hand reaches up: Chungsing marks an X over AUGUST 7TH.

She scans the weeks ahead. Post-it reminders over key dates: eye exams, orthodontist appointments, dinner meetings, etc.

Among them: August 8 - Shiu Fang Lunch August 22 - Vivian leaves home August 27 – Chris orthodontist / MAZE DAY Orientation

She brushes her finger along Vivian’s ‘leaving home’ note, almost as if a quiet reminder to herself that it’s real.

OMITTED

The sun beams down. Chungsing, Wang-Wang, and Vivian walk toward a small outlet center. Chungsing opens an umbrella.

WANG-WANG VIVIAN

MOM. Mom, can you not?

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[The sun is very strong

今 天太 阳 很⼤ .

today.]

They both groan, embarrassed.

Chungsing and Vivian shop together. A cute store packed with Japanese pencils, stationery, stuffed animals, etc.

Wang-Wang’s off on his own, surveying the collection of pens and erasers by the window.

He picks up an ERASER, wrapped in cute packaging.

妳 今天 塗 lotion了嗎？你 ⽪膚 看起 來

Your skin looks very dry.]

好 乾.

Then, from outside the window, the sound of wheels on concrete crescendo. Wang-Wang looks up and sees Cory -- one of the skaters from the earlier YouTube videos -- skate past.

Wang-Wang watches as he disappears around the corner...

He turns. Chungsing and Vivian at the opposite end. Employees busy. He stuffs the eraser in his pocket, leaves.

Wang-Wang exits out of the store. From afar, he sees Donovan and Nugget playing S-K-A-T-E underneath an awning.

He walks toward them, eyeing Donovan especially, enamored...

He approaches Cory, sitting on the ground, sippin’ a soda.

Cory looks up over his shoulder, surprised. Cory shoots Wang- Wang a look like: me?

Cory stares at Wang-Wang. He nods his head.

Wang-Wang just stands there, watching Donovan and Nugget play SKATE. Tre flip, match. Backside flip, match.

He doesn’t say a thing for a while. Cory sort of glances over: weeeeirdo.

Wang-Wang watches as Nugget misses a trick.

Long beat. Wang-Wang just stands there. Cory’s like..okay...?

Cory shakes his head no. Donovan hears this. Chimes in.

Wang-Wang thinks. His mind races: an idea.

Wang-Wang nods.

Wang-Wang nods again. Donovan and Cory glance at one another - - this kid legit? Cory shrugs.

Wang-Wang dabs up Donovan. Donovan hands him his phone.

Wang-Wang grabs it. Types in his contact. His hands shaking. Under NAME he writes: CHRIS WANG W.

Save. Hands the phone back.

Off Wang-Wang’s concerned look...

Wang-Wang BURSTS in. Dashes to his computer. Turns it on. Enters password. Click. Click. YouTube.

He clicks through to his Channel, then to his Video Manager where a list of previously uploaded videos appear.

He scrolls through them. We catch glimpses of video titles. Some are obviously skate-related, but some have titles like “shit piss” and “GAGANDEEP GUPTA PISSING IN THE RIVER.” They all have <200 views, except the latter: a little over 20,000.

He opens a few of the random ones in new tabs. He clicks:

‘crazy white lady freakout’ -- the clip of them blowing up Mrs. Miller’s mailbox and running away, screaming in elation, set to metal.

‘fahad getting owned’ -- Soup looks directly into the lens, shot on a shitty cell phone cam.

Soup turns and kicks Fahad in the nuts. He collapses, laughing and groaning. Soup: thumbs up.

‘smoking a sticky note’ -- From a webcam POV, the three boys huddle in front of a computer, Soup smoking what looks to be a joint, but it’s just a STICKY NOTE FULL OF TISSUE PAPER.

Wang-Wang grabs the faux-roach. He inhales...and then FOOMP -- inhales the rest of the paper down his throat. Swallows. Coughing. They laugh.

Wang-Wang clicks back to the VIDEO MANAGER PAGE. Scrolls down. Clicks the boxes next to those videos and a few others.

He flies back up the page. Moves the cursor to a button: “MORE ACTIONS” -- CLICKS to reveal a drop-down menu. The cursor hovers down, stops on “Delete Forever.” And...CLICK.

Memories deleted. BLACK.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 38.

CLOSE on a half-eaten DEAD FISH in front of Wang-Wang, it’s beady eyes staring him down.

Seated at the table are Wang-Wang, Chungsing, SHIU FANG, 50s, tiger mom with a warm facade, and MAX, 15, Asian excellence in all the ways his mother would want. He stares at his Playstation Portable.

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

(proudly)

四 ⾨AP課 ， Marching band，

[4 AP classes, Marching Band, violin, ASB, Badminton, ⼩ 提琴 ， ASB，⽻⽑球 ， ⾜球 ， soccer, and still a 4.0 GPA.]

還拿到 4.0 GPA.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Wow. That’s amazing.]

喔 . 好厲害 .

(to Max)

(to Max)

Congratulations! You’re so

Congratulations! You’re so

great.

great.

Max looks up from his game. Flashes Chungsing a half smile. Wang-Wang fiddles with his food: Why. did. I. come.

你也是 , 秀芳 , 你要 兼顧 這麼多 ,

all of that must also be stressful for you.] 壓⼒ ⼀定也很⼤ .

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[It’s alright. His father

我麼？！哦，不會 . 他 爸爸 幫了很多 .

helps with so much of it. Very manageable.] 我⾃⼰可做不來 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Oh. I see.]

哦，這樣啊 . *

Wang-Wang clocks this.

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[And your oldest! She’s

你家⽼⼤!她 秋 天去 UCLA! 對吧?

attending UCLA in the Fall, right?]

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 39.

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Oh...still good!]

哦 ...也還不 錯!

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Yeah! Yeah.]

是！是的 .

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[You must be so proud to be

你⼀定覺得很 驕傲吧 .

her mom.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Of course! We raise them

當 然!我們把他們養⼤ .

from children to now. How could we not be?] 怎麼可能不 驕傲 呢.

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[What about Chris?]

Chris呢 ?

(off Wang-Wang’s look)

(off Wang-Wang’s look)

Chris! Wow, so handsome. [Just like Ma Ying-jeou.] Chris！ 哇，好 帥啊 . 很像⾺ 英九 . *

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Chris, he...he uh-]

Chris，他 ...他， 呃-

(beat)

(beat)

[He’s exploring new interests.] 他還在 找 ⾃⼰ 感興趣 的事做 .

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Oh! Like what?]

哦 !⽐如說呢 ?

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(to Wang-Wang)

弟弟，你要不要 告訴秀芳阿姨 你喜歡什

[Didi, do you want to tell Shiu-Fang Ah-Yi your 麼 ? interests?]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING *

[Like...umm he really likes

⽐ 如...嗯 ，他很喜歡 溜滑板 .

skateboarding. And cameras. Video movie stuff.] 還有 攝影 . 拍video那 些東西 .

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Oh! Movie director! Ang

哦！ Movie director！ 李安 ！

Lee!]

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 40.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Yes! Exactly. My little Ang

對 ! 他就是我的⼩ 李安 .

Lee. Maybe one day he will thank me in his Oscar 也 許將 來有⼀天他能在 奧斯卡獲獎感⾔ speech.]

裡 感謝 我呢 .

They laugh. Nothing from Wang-Wang, so over it. He makes eye contact with the dead fish. Stares at it.

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Chris, Good luck. Finding Chris, good luck. success as an artist is a

藝術 家成 功可不容易 .

tough journey.]

(beat)

(beat) [Just ask your mother.] 問 你媽就知道了 .

Wang-Wang observes this patronizing jab fly over her head.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[You should watch some of his

你真該看看他 拍 的video. 都 很好 玩 . *

videos. They’re really fun.]

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Mhmmm...has Chris started

嗯 ...Chris開始準備 PSAT嗎?

PSAT prep?]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Not yet. It’s early, no?]

還沒呢。還早，不是嗎 ?

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[Early!? Max started his

早!?Max ⼋年級夏 天就 開始 了，

eighth grade summer and he got 2250 on his SAT - first 他 SAT得了 2250分-第⼀ 次考 哦 . try. It’s so competitive

現 在競爭 太激烈 了.

nowadays. Chris should’ve started last year.] Chris去 年就該 開始 的 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(nods; thinks...)

喔 . 我都 不知道 .

[Wow. I didn’t know.]

Wang-Wang stares at Max like he wants to strangle him --

SHIU FANG SHIU FANG

[You should take him to Max’s

你應該 帶 他去 Max的 補習 ⽼ 師那看看!

tutor! I’ll give you his number.] 我給你他的 號碼 .

可以嗎? 太 感謝 了 .

that.]

-- then shoots his look straight down, back at the dead fish. The world around him drones out.

(Wang-Wang’s dialogue appears as SUBTITLED THOUGHTS, but the dead fish replies in a husky, masculine voice.)

Wang-Wang stares. Pokes the fish in the eye with a chopstick.

CLOSE on a phone screen. “(;”

Then PUNCH OUT to reveal a text: LOL omgahhh shoosh ur like my little pet! anywayys; we should hang out sometime before school starts (;

Wang-Wang wields his phone. Fahad and Soup hunched over behind him, staring at the text like the scroll of the sages.

They laugh, clowning Wang-Wang. He just ignores.

On his phone, Wang-Wang types out in T-9 keyboard fashion: ok cool haha lol yeah sure

Fahad and Soup share a glance.

They laugh. Then, Fahad SNATCHES the phone out of Wang-Wang’s hands. Wang-Wang swings around, tries to grab back.

WANG-WANG FAHAD (CONT’D)

HEY. HOLD HIM DOWN!

Soup pounces on Wang-Wang, pinning him down, laughing. Fahad sits, wasting no time. Crafts a text.

Wang-Wang fumes, but sits still. He eyes Fahad like a hawk. From the phone UI, we see Fahad hit REPLY:

The cursor blinks...Fahad types out in T-9 keyboard fashion: we should|

Wang-Wang nods, approves...then -- Fahad’s fingers MASH like a madman. He finishes the sentence: get buttsex

Wang-Wang LUNGES for his phone. But Fahad pushes him off.

Soup pins Wang-Wang down, slapping his ass. Wang-Wang wrestles and screams.

On the phone screen, we see messages being typed out and sent: askghak; | odfbhoig | sry | that was my friend

A symphony of clicks and ‘message sent whooshes’ crescendo.

Then, Nai Nai walks in with a silver bowl full of sliced apples. She sees Soup, sitting on Wang-Wang, smiles.

She places the apples in front of them.

謝謝 . 我是 韓國 ⼈ .

Soup shimmies on Wang-Wang, spanking him again. Nai Nai flashes them a thumbs up.

WANG-WANG SOUP (CONT’D)

OWW, OW STOP. ~~Nai Nai. Nai Nai~~

Nai Nai laughs, dances along. Spanking herself on the butt.

Fahad clicking away by himself...

Wang-Wang just lies on the floor, given up.

BRRRING. Wang-Wang’s phone rings with a NEW TEXT tone.

Fahad looks at it. A smirk on his face.

He tosses the phone to Wang-Wang, looks at the text...surprisingly pleased and terrified all at once.

OMITTED

On his computer screen, CLOSE on a blinking cursor. Words slowly type: how to kiss

A list of autocomplete results drop down. He slowly hovers the cursor over the first few results.

how to kiss a girl first time how to kiss for your first kiss

CLICK. Search results on a YOUTUBE page flood the screen.

He hovers his cursor down to one titled: How to Kiss with Passion. CLICK.

The video plays. A cheesy opening logo, then -

IRL: Wang-Wang, watching intently. Ready.

Wang-Wang skips ahead. Finds them kissing.

Wang-Wang looks down, sees the bowl of sliced apples from before. He picks up two, puts them together as makeshift lips. Then, leans in...

Wang-Wang follows, kissing and sucking the apples. Nibbling a bit too. Slowly intensifying.

Wang-Wang and apple slices, making out.

Wang-Wang continues, deeply in it. Lip to apple smacking...

Crickets chirp. The glow of streetlights bleed onto the playground. Wang-Wang and Madi hang out near the top of the slide, underneath an awning:

Beat. Madi studies Wang-Wang...

Wang-Wang reaches into his pocket and hands her the eraser.

Wang-Wang immediately regrets: is this stupid? But Madi smiles, extremely flattered.

Wang-Wang shakes his head, embarrassed.

He nods.

MADI WANG-WANG (CONT’D)

You go first. You go first.

Wang-Wang is quiet...his mind racing, then he unleashes the weirdest, guttural sounding growl from his throat -- like a pig squeal meets a chainsaw.

Silence. Madi looks at Wang-Wang, his heart racing.

Then, she breaks out laughing. Wang-Wang chuckles along nervously. No idea what’s going on.

Beat. Quiet. Madi stares at Wang-Wang.

Wang-Wang’s a deer in the headlights. The backhandedness of this compliment flies way over him. He smiles.

Their eyes meet. She smiles.

Then, she edges her arm closer toward Wang-Wang. And ever-so- slightly, their hands touch. He notices. She notices.

A very long, awkward silence. Wang-Wang’s breathing pierces the air. Madi inches her hand closer to Wang-Wang’s...

Wang-Wang shakes his head. Madi moves her hand up towards Wang-Wang’s forearm.

Madi moves her hand onto his shoulder. Leans in closer and closer, her words turning into whispers.

Madi moves her hand down Wang-Wang’s chest now.

Wang-Wang squirms. Unsure if he wants out, but shakes his head.

And ever-so-slowly, Madi guides her hand toward Wang-Wang’s crotch as she tilts her head in to kiss him.

Wang-Wang’s breath quickens. His heart POUNDS. His head down. Eyes closed, ready for the kiss -- the pinnacle of adolescent desire. Then,

Pause.

Annnnd, moment’s ruined.

Wang-Wang shuffles Madi’s hand off of him. Madi leans back.

They sit in excruciating silence. Crickets chirp.

Wang-Wang slumps inside, full of self-loathing. Vivian has her head buried in a book at the kitchen table.

Vivian glances up. Notices immediately something is off.

His voice trembles. Vivian’s caught off guard, realizing this isn’t usual sibling bickering. Senses a real pain.

Wang-Wang runs off. Vivian, staggered and confused. She hears him SLAM his bedroom door shut.

Wang-Wang jerks awake. He tosses off the blankets, revealing a dark puddle underneath him. His boxers stained.

He reaches into his boxers and feels around. Pulls out his hand, his fingers sticky with semen.

He just sits there and stares at it, wallowing in his shame.

On his computer, Wang-Wang looks at his Facebook news feed: upperclassmen posting their class schedules, NOTES of 17 things about me, Facebook status updates, including:

Exactly two weeks until school starts! EEEEEPIadsjfdg;lfkdjfs;hklHGJ;ALHK

He doesn’t engage with these, but looks at the status update prompt staring back at him: what’s on your mind?...|

Fahad and Wang-Wang sit beside one another on the public bus.

Fahad looks, shocked as ever, mouth agape.

Wang-Wang nods. Fahad motions with his hand as if he’s “brushing his teeth.”

Fahad pushes his head through a small hole his hands make, insinuating some monstrous sexual activity -- definitely no.

Wang-Wang laughs.

Fahad strokes his fist up and down in the air, implying a handjob. Wang-Wang smirks, just shrugs.

Fahad gives him a fist bump -- truly can’t believe it.

Wang-Wang laughs it off, despite the lie.

OMITTED

Wang-Wang, Fahad, Jade, and Ellie hang out and play a round of mini golf:

-Jade and Ellie focusing on their swing. Fahad stands behind Jade and pretends to bone her with his club.

-Fahad blows a golf ball into its hole. Jade and Ellie laugh.

-Wang-Wang swings his club. Ball goes into the river. Jade rolls her eyes.

-In the ARCADE, they play makeshift slot machines, claw games, skeeball.

-Jade rallies them to take a photo in front of the main course: a giant monument with a colorful 3-HEADED DRAGON.

They all run up, Jade, Ellie, Fahad each claim a head. None for Wang-Wang.

Wang-Wang reluctantly grabs the camera. Steps back. Snaps a photo. Steps forward to return it then -

Wang-Wang steps back again. Flash. Steps forw-

And back. Flash.

Flash.

Wang-Wang and Fahad sit at a booth across from Jade and Ellie. They listen to Fahad, mid-story. He’s loud, animated -- into it. Wang-Wang -- over it.

JADE ELLIE

Fingerprints? Blood.

JADE ELLIE

Ewww! Yuuuck!

Jade and Ellie LOL. Wang-Wang doesn’t. Fahad sits down.

Fahad kicks him underneath the table. Wang-Wang grunts, side eyes Fahad. Fahad doesn’t register. Or doesn’t care. He redirects his attention to his drink, biting his straw.

Jade laughs.

He looks at Fahad.

All eyes turn to Wang-Wang. Wang-Wang glances at Fahad. He shoots him a look like: it’s on you.

Wang-Wang feels the spotlight -- out of his element, but...a determination washes over him. He steps up. Begins.

Jade and Ellie’s eyes WIDEN. They look at each other: wtf?

Wang-Wang’s oral storytelling skills are decent at best, but he’s trying. He gets more into it as he continues the story.

From this part of the story on out, we see HEIGHTENED FLASHBACKS of Wang-Wang’s story, visualized by PHOTOS shot on a point-and-shoot DIGITAL CAMERA.

Soup, Wang Wang, Fahad, and Hardeep, hover over a DEAD SQUIRREL. They watch as Soup waterfalls Monster Energy into the squirrel’s mouth.

Then, it SPAZZES AWAKE.

Hardeep picks the squirrel up by the tail and swings it around. He looks fucking insane. As he swings, we CUT BACK to-

Wang-Wang imitates swinging a rope like Hardeep, getting more animated as Jade and Ellie’s expression goes from confused to horrified. Fahad shakes his head.

Hardeep chases the boys with the dead squirrel swinging around -- Monster flying out of it’s mouth.

POP. The body of the squirrel soars through the air. The boys look on in awe.

And PLOP. The squirrel hits the ground. Squirming. The boys run off.

Beat. Zero laughter. Just wide-eyed shock.

Beat. His words land like a sharp dagger, not a friendly jab.

JADE / ELLIE / FAHAD UMMM / Woah. / Dude.

Jade and Ellie: Unamused. Fahad’s face screams -- what are you doing? So embarrassed.

A beautiful blue hue. A MINIVAN pulls up outside.

Before they get in, Jade and Ellie glance at one another -- a mental confirmation of sorts for something.

Wang-Wang turns to Fahad, hoping for a response like: “it’s okay. We’ll take the bus home together.” But --

Beat. Wang-Wang nods.

Wang-Wang watches Jade, Ellie, and Fahad hop in the minivan.

He notices that after they all get seated, there’s still one vacant seat left in the back.

Fahad pulls the door shut, but it’s one of those automatic minivan doors. It stutters in place as he tries to close it. Wang-Wang watches, just waiting for them to ditch him.

Fahad leaves the door alone. Looks at Wang-Wang. They share a strained look.

The door glitches a few times, then very slowly shuts. Wang- Wang watches as the car disappears out of the parking lot.

Wang-Wang sits on a bench, waiting. Has been here a while...

He pulls out his phone. Dials someone...

The car coasts down the road. Chungsing drives as Wang-Wang stares out the window, a sadness in his eyes.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi.]

弟弟 .

(beat)

(beat)

[Didi.]

弟啊 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Are you okay?]

你還好嗎 ?

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[You look sad.] Are you sad?

你看 起 來有點難 過.Are you sad?

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Okay. Just asking.]

好啦， 只 是問 ⼀ 問.

(beat)

(beat)

[If you’re not fine you can also tell me.] 如果你不 OK你也可以 告訴 我.

Wang-Wang ignores her. He turns the car dial to an alt-rock radio station to drown out the silence....

Chungsing turns the volume down.

Wang-Wang turns it back up...Chungsing turns it back down.

Wang-Wang turns it back up. From the steering wheel, she turns it down.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I can’t focus on driving

這麼⼤聲，我不能 專⼼開⾞ 啦!

when it’s so loud.]

Sigh. A long silence. They drive. It’s tense. Wang-Wang stares out the window.

Then........a sniff.

Wang-Wang sniffs -- she did.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Okay, maybe I did! I don’t

好啦!也 許 我有，我也不知道.

know.]

Wang-Wang smashes the window button. Doesn’t go down.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[MOM. UNLOCK THE WINDOW.]

媽媽 . UNLOCK THE WINDOW.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Not working?]

打 不開 呀?

Chungsing clicks from her side of the car. Nothing.

壞 了.

Wang-Wang tucks his head inside his shirt like a turtle.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[You’re so dramatic! A fart

你太 dramatic了， 屁就是 屁嘛!

is a fart.]

Beat. Chungsing takes deep sniffs.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I’m helping you! I’m

我 只是想幫你呀，我把 屁吸⾛.

sniffing the fart away.]

They drive. Wang-Wang sits quiet, his head still tucked in his shirt. Chungsing sniffs.

Mmm. 我 今天吃的 沙拉 .

Head still tucked, Wang-Wang glances over –– gross.

Finally, she stops.

好了， 都 沒了.

Beat. They drive in silence. Chungsing glances over at Wang- Wang...still senses a sadness.

弟弟 .

(beat)

(beat)

[Have you eaten yet?]

你吃 過 飯沒有 ?

Wang-Wang throws his hoodie back, pops his head back out. Looks at Chungsing...shakes his head.

Chungsing watches as Wang-Wang gleefully scarfs down a McChicken. A Happy Meal box sits in front of them.

吃 慢點，你要讓你的 ⼝ ⽔和⻝ 物混起 來

saliva soak in the food. You eat like a little dog. . 你吃 起 來好像⼀ 隻⼩ 狗 , Smaller bites.]

吃⼩ ⼝ ⼀點 .

Wang-Wang shoots Chungsing a look that says: seriously? But then, flashes his half-chewed food to Chungsing.

不要 show 你的 ABC!

[Don’t show your ABC!]

Wang-Wang laughs along. A sweet moment.

Beat. Chungsing disassembles her burger. Wang-Wang observes.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Eating.]

吃啊 .

Chungsing forks a bite of the bun, then puts a chunk of patty in her mouth separately -- eating it like a platter.

Chungsing takes this in. She looks at her little boy...continues eating as well, fork to mouth...then,

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(beat; sighs)

我 今天跟 Shiu Fang

[I talked to Shiu Fang Ah Yi’s tutor today.] 阿姨 的 補習 ⽼ 師通 話了 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[It could be good for you.]

這是為你好 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I already signed you up.]

我已經給你 報名 了.

Wang-Wang doodles stick figures skating on a worksheet in a garage turned makeshift classroom. A group of kids fill rows of fold-out desks. Graphite scratches fills the quiet.

Then, a tiny crumpled up piece of paper decks him in the head. He glances around. Every student with their heads down. He notices a scattered sea of paper balls.

Then, a snicker to his left. It’s Max and JOSH, 15, another try-hard wannabe-gangster Asian kid.

Wang-Wang glares at them, then looks back down. Does nothing.

CLOSE on a letter. We see glimpses of sentences:

“Thank you for submitting” “regret to inform” “not selected” “Sincerely, Committee for National Painters’ Association”

REVEAL –- Chungsing gripping the rejection letter. Sighs.

On his computer screen, CLOSE on a series of Jade’s Facebook photos that Fahad is tagged in. An album titled `08 SUMMER! :] – Wang-Wang clicks through: them at the AMUSEMENT PARK, web- cam screenshots, the photo of Fahad, Jade and Ellie at Golfland that Wang-Wang took. He lingers on this...then -

An AIM window pops up: a message from Madi:

MeowwwitsMadix3:heyyyyyy

MeowwwitsMadix3 is typing...

MeowwwitsMadix3:are you mad at me?

Wang-Wang stares at the blinking cursor...then types:

no i think im just kinda embarrassed abou|

Beat. Doesn’t send. Then, he slowly glides his mouse over a button that says “BLOCK.” And...CLICK.

MeowwwitsMadix3 signed off at 10:14:16 AM.

He sighs.

White Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 65.

Then, his phone rings, a generic ringtone now. He checks the front screen. An unknown number. He lets it sit...picks up.

A voice on the other end speaks and Wang-Wang PERKS UP.

Wang-Wang rushes in to Chungsing, washing dishes. Nai Nai looming beside her, bickering. Vivian sits on the couch nearby, reading.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Mom!]

媽媽 !

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Let me do the dishes. You

讓我 洗 . 反正 你也 洗不 乾淨 . *

don’t wash them clean enough anyways.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Ma, stop nagging me.]

媽，別再說了 .

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Mom.] Can you give me a

媽媽 . Can you give me a ride?

ride?

Neither of them give him the time of day.

媽媽 . *

Chungsing places a clean, just-washed dish in the dishwasher. *

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[SEE? THAT PLATE IS STILL

看到沒？ 盤⼦還是髒 兮兮 的！⾛ 開 .

DIRTY! Move over.]

⾛ 開.

Nai Nai pushes her aside, reaches for the dishes and sponge.

CHUNGSING NAI NAI (CONT’D)

[Nai Nai. Let go.] [Give it to me.] 奶奶 . 放⼿ . 給我 .

is so chaotic! Because you

你就不能 鬆⼿嗎 !

never let me help.] 你看 ?這就是為什麼這個 房⼦ 亂糟糟 的 原因 ! 因 為你 從 來不讓我幫 忙 .

incompetent mother.]

奶奶，你不要再說了 !

哎呀 . 你真是個沒有⽤的媽媽 .

難 怪我 兒 ⼦不想 回家 .

want to be home.] "

Nai Nai snatches the plate out of Chungsing’s hands, but Chungsing JERKS it back, knocking it out of both of their hands and onto the floor. It SHATTERS next to Wang-Wang.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[NAI NAI! WILL YOU GO AWAY!?

奶奶 ! 你就不能放⼿別 管 嗎!?

FOR JUST ONE SECOND?!]

哪 怕就⼀ 分鐘 ?!

It’s sharp, loud -- unexpected.

你真是個 累贅 .

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[ME? BURDEN? All I offer to

我 !? 累贅 ？我 只 是想幫 忙 .

do is help because clearly you can’t handle it. And if 你⾃⼰做不了 . my son weren’t out there

如果不是我 兒 ⼦在 外⾯努⼒⼯作賺錢 ，

working, making money, this family would have nothing and 這個家什麼也沒有，我們早就變成 流浪 we would all be homeless.]

漢了 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I’M THE REASON THIS HOUSE IS

是我 撐起 了這個家 .

A HOME. NOT YOU, NOT HIM. ME.] 不是你，也不是他 . 是我 . (beat; quiet) (beat; quiet) [Nai Nai. I know you find me

奶奶 . 我知道你覺得我沒⽤ .

unworthy. But I swear, if you don’t stop criticizing me, I 但 我告訴 你，你要是再對我說三道四， will kick you out. Do you

我就把你 赶出 去 .

understand? I am done.]

你聽 明⽩ 了嗎？我 受夠 了.

All of a sudden, silent and still. Nai Nai, staggered. Wang- Wang, stunned. Scared, almost.

Chungsing fumes. She kneels down and picks up the shards, a small cut bleeding from her finger. Wang-Wang observes...

Vivian shuffles next to Wang-Wang.

Wang-Wang looks at his sister...

Vivian drives. It’s quiet. Wang-Wang stares out the window.

Wang-Wang nods, but clearly still shaken. Silent tension.

They coast. Then, spotted. Across an industrial lot: Donovan.

Vivian pulls in.

Vivian stops. Wang-Wang unbuckles his seatbelt. Grabs his board. Opens the door.

Wang-Wang nods...then jumps out. Vivian observes as he skates off towards a group of friends she doesn’t recognize.

Wang-Wang runs up to the spot.

DONOVAN / NUGGET / CORY Ayeeeee, Chris! / Hey!!!! / Yoooo.

They’re super welcoming. Donovan dabs him up -- all smiles.

MOMENTS LATER

Wang-Wang stands on a ledge, camera pointed toward a stair set. Donovan and Nugget huck tricks down it, catching some in mid-air, then kicking out. Or sticking some, falling off.

Cory sits near Wang-Wang, staring at him film.

Beat. Noted. Switches to an underhand grip.

Donovan hucks a tre flip down the set. Flies off.

Donovan runs back up the set as Nugget jumps down. Falls.

Nugget clears to the left of the set, making way for Donovan. As he throws down his board, a RENT-A-COP, 50s, Santa-bodied hag, storms out of the entrance, bumping Donovan.

The faux-cop BOUNDS towards Donovan. Gets all up in his shit.

As the rent-a-cop shouts, Donovan shouts back to cancel him out. Verbal mayhem. Wang-Wang’s recording the whole thing -- we we see him zoom all the way in from the viewfinder.

RENT-A-COP DONOVAN

GET OFF. GET OFF MY LOT. (yelling gibberish)

The rent-a-cop reaches for Donovan’s board. Donovan reaches back. Then the cop SHOVES Donovan. Donovan stumbles, but uses it as momentum to JUKE him -

He shuffles past the rent-a-cop. Drops his board down, rides up to the set and -

POP - SCOOP - FLICK - LANDS - BOLTS. Turns and flips off the rent-a-cop as he rides away.

Cory and Nugget SMACK their boards on the ground, cheering.

CORY NUGGET

YEAH. Yay!!!!!!

In slow-motion, Wang-Wang jumps off the ledge and skates away, his adrenaline rushing, smiling from cheek to cheek. His heart pounding, the music SOARS --

Cluttered, ragged, disheveled. Chill hip-hop plays. Donovan coasts down the road, post-sesh. Wang-Wang sits in the backseat with Cory, clipping his toenails.

Clippings fly towards Wang-Wang. He flinches.

Wang-Wang smiles. Cory clips another nail. Wang-Wang watches as it falls next to a SHOELACE on the floor. He grabs it.

Wang-Wang creeps in through the garage, making sure the coast is clear. Tension resolved.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Mom?]

媽媽 ?

No response.

Her makeshift studio. Wang-Wang pops his head in. Empty.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Mom???]

媽媽 ???

An empty bed. Sheets strewn out. Still.

奶奶 ?

The seat where Nai Nai studies, unoccupied.

奶奶 ?!

Wang-Wang surveys the backyard where Nai Nai stretches.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Nai Nai???]

奶奶 ???

NAI NAI NAI NAI

(beat; weakly)

弟弟 ...

[Didi...]

Wang-Wang turns. Sees Nai Nai’s legs stretched out on the ground.

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[NAI NAI.]

奶奶 .

He rushes over and hovers over her.

你還好嗎？

Nai Nai rests on the edge of the bed. Wang-Wang watches as Chungsing lies her down, Vivian lifting her legs up onto the bed and rubbing on a Chinese medicinal ointment.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[I fell...I was there for

我摔 倒 了 , 在那 躺 了三個⼩ 時 .

three hours. I call, I call. Nobody heard me...I just 我 叫啊， 叫. couldn’t stand up.]

沒⼈ 回 應...我⾃⼰ 根本起 不來 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Ma. It’s okay.]

媽 . 沒關係 .

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Nai Nai is so old. How many

奶奶那麼⽼了 . 還能 活幾年 ？...

years do I have left?...I won’t even be here to see you 我等不到你 ⾼ 中 畢業 了 . finish high school.]

WANG-WANG WANG-WANG

[Don’t talk like that.]

不要這麼講 .

Wang-Wang observes as Chungsing rests Nai Nai’s head on her pillow. Gently. Lovingly.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Nai Nai. Lie down.]

奶奶 . 躺著 .

(beat)

(beat)

[Kids, it’s fine. You can leave. Let Nai Nai rest.] 好了，沒事了 . 你們 出 去 吧.

讓奶奶好好 休息 .

Nai Nai quietly cries as Vivian slumps out of the room. She nudges Wang-Wang to follow suit. He does. They exit into the

HALLWAY

but just before they split their separate ways...

-The room, in mid-move clutter: glimpses of Wang-Wang helping Vivian tear posters off her wall; stuffing belongings in boxes; clearing drawers, etc.

Vivian tippy-toes on her chair, peeling glow-in-the-dark sticker planets off her ceiling. Wang-Wang spots her.

As she stretches and grunts, Wang-Wang looks around her room: plastered walls now bare, empty boxes packed, suitcases stuffed -- sees his favorite UCSD sweater thrown inside.

Vivian tosses down a few stickers.

Wang-Wang nods. He takes inventory of the room, then looks up at his sister. Quietly spots her.

Donovan and Nugget skate down a stair set as Wang-Wang films, crouched -- fisheye. All smiles. He wears a shoelace belt and fitted beanie, their influence clearly making a mark on him.

CUE MONTAGE –– a series of lifestyle moments in VARIOUS LOCATIONS of them just hanging out, shot on Wang-Wang’s camcorder:

-Cory, asleep at a spot. Nugget throws water on his face. He spits awake.

-Donovan falls rolling up to the stair set. He laughs. Then, he ollies it. Flips off the camera in midair.

-Donovan and Nugget skate flatground, They do an Emerica flip. Land it. Cheer.

-Nugget licks the fisheye lens.

-All of them at a fast food joint, chillin’, eating. Nugget throws up the Fremont “F” with his fingers.

-Donovan takes the camera from Wang-Wang and points it towards him! He doesn’t know to do. Awkwardly does some finger gestures and dances. Donovan laughs.

Donovan, Nugget, Cory skate past, laughing. Wang-Wang follows. As they walk to the car:

Wang-Wang stops. Turns. Sees Fahad running over.

Wang-Wang clocks this: we. From a distance, he sees Jade walking over. A bitterness washes over him.

Fahad, surprised, watches as Wang-Wang leaves him.

A kickback. Music bumps. Teenagers playing beer pong, smoking hookah, weed -- people seshing a DIY mini-ramp. A hazy sight.

The boys enter through the back door. Almost immediately, MACK, 17, larger-than-life, funny-as-fuck, appears:

DONOVAN / NUGGET / CORY W’sup playa! / Maaack!!! / Yooo.

Mack squeezes them through a slim walkway. Wang-Wang, a boy among men, tries to follow, but loses them among the crowd.

Wang-Wang sits on a couch, trying to blend into the party...

He glances over. A few TEENS cutting up lines of cocaine on the coffee table.

Then, an OLDER COUPLE, 18, collapses on the seat beside him. She’s on his lap. He’s feeling her up. Necking...until it turns into a full blown, sensual dry hump-make out.

Wang-Wang just sits there. Tries to ignore it...but just feels too uncomfortable. He jets off.

Wang-Wang eyes the snacks. He sees a tray full of plastic cups of JELLO. He sucks one down. His face scrunches: liquor.

His eyes scan for drinks. He spots a WATER BOTTLE. Unscrews it. Waterfalls a sip: vodka. Scrunches again.

He searches for a palette cleanser. Spotted: a pan of LEMON BARS. He chunks off a piece. Washes the taste away.

Wang-Wang wanders, then spots a GROUP of TEENS, Mack, Donovan, Nugget, Cory included, posted in a circle, smoking a blunt and free-styling.

Wang-Wang slides in next to Donovan, fist bumping him.

Someone passes Wang-Wang the blunt. Down to its last tokes...he studies it, then hits it.

Everyone laughs. Wang-Wang passes the blunt to Donovan.

Oh. Passes it to Mack instead. He tries to smoke it but -

Wang-Wang thinks: a chance to impress. He reaches for the roach. Mack hands it over.

Wang-Wang studies it for a beat, then smokes the last bit of the blunt, attempts to take a deep drag. The weed lights...

...then he straight INHALES IT like he did the sticky-note joint. He swallows, but this time coughs up a lung.

The crowd is quiet. Eyes wide, genuinely concerned, but then -

Mood lightens. Everyone laughs. What. Just. Happened.

Everyone joins in.

Wang-Wang’s eyes tear up - his throat burning. Coughing still, but smiles through it all as everyone hypes him up.

His vision and hearing starts to blur...

Wang-Wang drifts through the room, zooted out of his mind. The sights and sounds of the world blurring around him.

He looks around and sees: a GUY with 6 EYES AND 3 PAIRS OF GLASSES, all blinking out of sync; a trio of friends, their heads the DRAGONS from Golfland; and the DEAD SQUIRREL, a halo over it’s head. It speaks to Wang-Wang.

Wang-Wang takes this in, but also...WTF is happening.

He turns and sees a couch: perfect.

He stumbles toward it, but the couch gets seemingly further away with every step. Eventually, he makes it and collapses onto the couch. He closes his eyes and --

BLAARGH. Wang-Wang leans over the toilet, barfing. Vivian by his side. The bathroom fan hums.

[Vivian? Are you okay in

Vivian? 你在裡 ⾯ 還好 吧 ?

there?]

VIVIAN VIVIAN

Uhh...I’m fine! [I have

Uhh...I’m fine! 我瀉肚 ⼦了 .

diarrhea.]

哦 . 好吧 . 不要忘記 洗⼿ .

wash your hands.]

Wang-Wang pukes into the toilet. Panting. Crossfaded -- Everything, all at once, for the first time.

Vivian pats his back, hands him a glass of water.

Wang-Wang shakes his head. Vivian forces him the glass.

He groans, takes a sip of the water.

Vivian observes Wang-Wang with the realization that in this moment, he’s not just the little brother -- little kid -- he’s always been anymore.

Wang-Wang HEAVES. Nope.

Vivian rubs his back. Watching over him.

Lights off. A slice of moonlight carves across Wang-Wang, stretched out on the floor, bundled up in a sea of blankets.

Chungsing SLAMS the trunk door, packed with piles of LUGGAGE. Vivian embraces Nai Nai, now leaning against a cane.

VIVIAN VIVIAN

Bye-bye, [Nai Nai.]

Bye-bye, 奶奶 .

As they let go, Nai Nai attempts to shove a RED ENVELOPE into Vivian’s pocket.

奶奶 . 我不⽤ .

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[Take it! Take it!]

拿 著! 拿 著 !

VIVIAN VIVIAN

(giving up) (giving up) [Okayokayokay. Thank you.]

好啦 . 好啦 . 謝謝 .

Vivian stuffs the red envelope in her pocket and shuffles in front of Wang-Wang. They share a blank stare.

Vivian kinda-sorta reaches her arms out for a hug. Wang-Wang holds for a beat, then awkwardly embraces her.

They let go and look at each other -- that was weird.

Beat. He nods. They share a stilted smile -- an understanding that there is love between them, as stifled as it is.

Vivian hops into the car. Nai-Nai waves goodbye as they leave.

NAI NAI NAI NAI

[DON’T FORGET TO EAT FRUIT!]

不要忘記吃⽔果 !

Wang-Wang watches as they drive off.

Wang-Wang steps into Vivian’s room, stripped of personality. Bare walls, naked floor -- all that’s left is a bed and desk.

Wang-Wang spots a sweater on the bed. He unfolds it: it’s Vivian’s UCSD sweater.

He hugs the sweater close, plops down onto her bed, and scans the room, taking it in.

On Wang-Wang’s computer: a FACEBOOK MESSENGER chat box.

have fun in college

Clacking of a keyboard...ENTER.

thx for the sweater

Wang-Wang exits the chat with Vivian. Scrolls over to his news feed. Sees a Facebook Status from Madi: BLAH. hate when i do something wrong && feel like a shittyyyy person );

Wang-Wang registers this...

Then, a hip-hop ringtone plays -- the same song that was playing in Donovan’s car -- and pierces the quiet.

Wang-Wang lets the phone ring for a few seconds, then -

As Wang-Wang listens to the other line, he LAUNCHES up.

Wang-Wang tears down his ANIME POSTERS, rips off his TEDDY BEAR BEDSHEETS, and stashes away his manga.

OMITTED

Wang-Wang opens the front door and Nugget bursts in, shoes still on, past a pile of slippers by the door.

Wang-Wang points down the hall. Donovan and Cory step inside, shoes still on as well. Dab up Wang-Wang. They scan their surroundings. PAINTINGS on the wall catch their eye.

They laugh. Wang-Wang takes this in. Never considered that.

Wang-Wang scans all his favorite Asian snacks, but searches for anything else he thinks they might find “normal”.

Wang-Wang walks in. Donovan and Cory posted up by his desk. Donovan fucks around with a tech deck.

Wang-Wang takes a seat in his chair. They huddle behind him.

Wang-Wang shrugs.

Wang-Wang turns on his computer. Logs in. Nugget comes in and joins the trio. Puts his hands around Cory.

Cory shimmies away.

They laugh. Wang-Wang pulls up the folder. He clicks one: Donovan at the Dixon landing spot. One of his bails.

Nugget jumps off the set next. Bail.

On Wang-Wang’s computer screen. He clicks open the clip of Donovan bickering with the rent-a-cop in Windows Movie Maker.

As Donovan jukes the rent-a-cop and skates toward the stair set, the camera is still terribly zoomed in, frantically attempting to course-correct -- too late.

We hear the POP - SCOOP - FLICK. The cheers. The celebration. But the footage is an absolute blur. Completely unusable.

Donovan and Nugget, hovered behind Wang-Wang, blank-faced.

Wang-Wang swings around and sees Cory flipping through one of his graphic novels: shit.

Right then, Chungsing cracks open the door and pops in.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Didi. I’m going to buy some

弟啊 . 我要去 買 菜 .

groceries. Do you want anything?] 你要我 買 什麼 回 來嗎 ?

The skaters all turn and see Chungsing. They wave.

DONOVAN / NUGGET / CORY Hi Mrs. Wang!! / Hi!! / Ni hao ma!

Wang-Wang is seething.

DONOVAN / NUGGET / CORY I’m Donovan / Nugget / Cory.

They laugh.

Wang-Wang launches up from his chair and bounds toward Chungsing, slowly pushing her out of the room.

Wang-Wang SHOVES her out of the room. SLAMS the door.

Silence. Donovan, Nugget, and Cory are shocked.

DONOVAN NUGGET

...Yooo. You can’t be talking So mean!!! to your mom like that...

Beat. Awkward silence. Wang-Wang hangs his head, humiliated.

Wang-Wang stretches his bedsheets back on. Tacks his posters back on the walls. He stares at one of his Dragon Ball Z posters, Goku’s big, beady, anime eyes staring back at him.

Wang-Wang slouches in front of his computer. He plays through the whole clip he fucked up of Donovan, shaky as hell.

He sighs. Stops the clip. Right clicks the file, drags the cursor down...delete.

He glides his cursor over to his AIM BUDDY LIST.

Under a sub-category labeled ‘gut boys’ is fahadtheg0d -- online, but away.

Wang-Wang double clicks his screen-name, opening a new MESSAGE BOX.

The cursor blinks. Waiting for something to be typed...

hey are you mad at me?|

He glides his cursor over to a NEW TAB on Mozilla Firefox.

Types “MY” in the URL bar. Glides his cursor down to an autocomplete suggestion of Fahad’s Myspace page. *CLICK*

The page loads. Wang-Wang scans the page -- minimally designed. A few HTML flourishes and images that express his love for streetwear and underground hip-hop. ;Online Now.

He scrolls down to Fahad’s Top 8 Friends section. He looks through them, his cursor hovering over each profile, and it sinks in: Wang-Wang, nowhere to be found.

Wang-Wang closes the page. He moves his cursor back to the AIM window, X’s out.

He scrolls down his buddy list. His cursor lands on another screenname: Smarterchild. Double click. Message box opens.

bigwang510: sup Smarterchild: Hi bigwang510. You know, hanging out. You? bigwang510: i said SUP bigwang510: bitchass ho Smarterchild: Uh huh.

T Type “horoscope”<<

bigwang510: horoscope Smarterchild: I’m sorry. I didn’t get that. bigwang510: wtf Smarterchild: Humans, humans, humans.

Always with the language. bigwang510: sry im just kinda sad rn Smarterchild: It’s okay to feel sad. Would you like to hear a joke? bigwang510: no bigwang510: i cant do anythnig right bigwang510: all my freinds r mad at me and nobody likes me Smarterchild: I’m your friend :).

Wang-Wang sighs. Leans back in his chair, defeated.

The TUTOR, 50s, rings a little desk bell. Break time.

Wang-Wang sits at his desk, board underneath his feet. He glances inside the house -- OLDER KIDS, 17 or so...

Beside him, a group of ASIAN KIDS, 13, hover over two boys playing a card game. Wang-Wang feels neither here nor there.

Wang-Wang hides near the front porch by himself, fumbling with his board.

Josh and Max round the corner. Josh spots him.

They take a seat beside him. Wang-Wang braces himself...

Beat. Josh puts his hand on Wang-Wang’s knee. He pulls back.

Wang-Wang freezes. Mind racing. Heart stops.

Still nothing. Josh shoots him a look like: well?

Wang-Wang has no idea what to say. He turns to Max, avoiding.

Josh laughs. He dabs up Max, chuckling -- got em’!

Wang-Wang, quiet. Hurt. Josh taunts.

They walk away.

Wang-Wang watches, blood boiling, over it.

We follow Josh and Max- and then before you know it,

Wang-Wang throws his board down. Rushes forward. SHOVES Josh.

Max steps in, tries to mediate. Puts his hands on Wang-Wang.

Wang-Wang SWIPES his hands away.

Then, Josh swoops in and shoves Wang-Wang back.

Wang-Wang, fueled by rage, LUNGES back immediately. Fists clenched. SWINGS at Josh.

CLOCKING him right in the face. He falls to the ground, wincing, nose bloody.

Wang-Wang pounces down to keep going, but Max jumps in, holding him back.

MAX WANG-WANG

[TEACHER!! TEACHER!!!!] GET OFF ME!!!! GET OFF ME. ⽼ 師!! ⽼ 師 !!!!

Wang-Wang sits inside the car, looking out the window.

On the driveway, Chungsing takes the blow as JOSH’S MOM, 50s, lambasts her, absolutely furious. Next to her stands the tutor, Shiu Fang & Max, and Josh, ice pack to his face.

The door SLAMS. Chungsing berates Wang-Wang, sulking in the backseat.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[How could you do this!? What

你怎麼能做 出 這 種事！？我不是常常 告

do I always tell you? Your mouth is for saying nice 訴 你什麼 ? words. Your hands are for

你的嘴巴是⽤来说好话 .

doing good deeds.]

你的⼿是⽤来做好事 .

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[I DON’T CARE. YOU CANNOT HIT

我不 管 . 你不能 打 ⼈.

PEOPLE.]

Chungsing reaches behind and smacks Wang-Wang on the palm.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[DON’T SAY DIRTY WORDS!]

不要說髒話 !

Wang-Wang retaliates and KICKS the back of Chungsing’s seat.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Do you know how your

你知道你這麼做別⼈會怎麼看我！？像

behavior makes me look!? Like I raised a son without a 我沒有好好教養 . single manner.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[YOU DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME?

你 竟然 敢 這樣跟我講話？我這 輩⼦ 都 ⽤

MY ENTIRE LIFE IS SPENT TAKING CARE OF YOU. I WORK SO 來 照顧 你 # .我每天 含⾟茹 $ . HARD EVERYDAY. ALL FOR YOU.] 為了什 % ?都是為了 !

WANG-WANG CHUNGSING (CONT’D)

YEAH RIGHT. DAD’S THE ONE IN YOU THINK I WANT THIS? YOU TAIWAN MAKING MONEY WHILE YOU DON’T THINK I WONDER ABOUT SIT AT HOME AND DRAW FUCKING HOW MUCH HAPPIER I’D BE CLOUDS. NO WONDER NAI NAI WITHOUT YOU? HATES YOU.

你覺得這是我想要的 ⽣活 ？你不知道如 果沒有你們我的 ⽣活 該有多 幸福 .

有哪個⼩孩會這樣跟他媽媽講話 . 你覺得 MAX會 -

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(beat; stern)

弟弟 .

[Didi.]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Lower your voice.]

不要⼤ 吼 .

Chungsing RAISES her hand to hit him, but restrains. Wang- Wang flinches, shocked.

They share a painful look. A piercing silence in the air.

Then, Wang-Wang opens the car door and jumps out, SLAMMING the door behind him.

Through the rear window, Wang-Wang disappears into the darkness. We stay in the car with Chungsing, visibly shaken. She takes it all in. Deep breaths.

Wang-Wang tears down the street, fuming.

Finally, he stops, catches his breath. Gathers himself and looks around...sighs.

Wang-Wang posts up underneath an awning. The wind howls. It’s dark. Cold. Late. He shivers.

A rustle in the bush beside him. Wang-Wang turns. High alert.

He hears footsteps and voices behind him. He turns. Nobody.

He pulls out his phone. 12:14am. 2% battery left. No missed calls. He clicks through to MOM. Contemplates...

Then, a car pulls into the parking lot nearby. Headlights shining right at him. Then, they shut off.

Nobody gets out. Wang-Wang lingers. His heart pounding. Muffled voices from inside the car. Windows fogging up.

Finally, the car door opens. Smoke billows out. An older teenage boy steps out, coughing.

Nope. Wang-Wang BOOKS IT. Not looking back. Terrified.

He approaches. Yanks on the door handle. Locked. Sighs.

Wang-Wang rests his head against the window, dozing off.

Wang-Wang exits the bus.

The town is asleep. Desolate suburban roads. Wang-Wang wanders, a speck in the darkness.

A streetlight flickers. Wang-Wang trudges toward the playground and curls himself up underneath the slide awning where him and Madi hung out, shivering.

He buries his head into his arms. Shivering. Teeth chattering. Drifting to sleep.

The sun rises over the mountains. Wang-Wang quivers awake. He checks his phone. Dead.

The town, just waking up. Businesses opening. People leaving for work. Wang-Wang slumps home.

He punches in the garage code, opening the garage door.

He creeps into the house, walks past Chungsing’s bedroom, towards his bedroom, but then -- stops. He backtracks toward Chungsing’s room. The door cracked open.

Beat. He enters.

Chungsing lies in bed, still in her pajamas, reading. Wang- Wang pops in. She glances up. They share a strained look. Chungsing: anything you want to say?

She sees a pain in his eyes.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

(not expecting that)

什麼 ?

[What?]

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[...Come here, Didi.]

...來來 . 弟弟 .

Wang-Wang dawdles over.

你還記得 Vivian

ran away when she was 14?]

⼗ 四歲 那 次跑⾛的 時 候 嗎?

Wang-Wang shakes his head.

她 問我能不能去 Annie家

Annie’s house, and I didn’t let her. She got so mad at sleepover，我沒 答 應. 她 氣死了 . me. I still remember she

我還記得她看 著 我，說 , 媽媽 , I

looked at me and said, Mom,]

just want you to know that I

I just want you to know that

hate you...I feel so hurt.

I hate you...I feel so hurt. [And then, she ran away. She 說完，她就跑 掉 了. 她三天 都 沒 回家 . was gone for three days. I

我 當時 好 害怕 .

was so scared. Then, one day, she just came home. She 後來有⼀天，她⾃⼰就 回來了 . didn’t talk to me. Wouldn’t

也不跟我講話也不看我⼀眼 .

look at me. But I was so happy...] 但 是...我還是很 開⼼ ... (tearing up, but (tearing up, but laughing) laughing) [Compared to her, you are not

跟她 ⽐ 啊，你還沒那麼 stubborn.

as stubborn. So I knew you would come home.] 所以我知道你⼀定會 回 來.

Wang-Wang takes this all in. Chungsing sighs.

弟啊，你知道嗎 .

sit and think about how I ended up here. Just an 有 時候 我 坐在這我就在想我是怎麼 落 到 ordinary housewife. And it is

現 在這樣的 . 只 是個 普 通 家庭主婦 .

true. I do wonder sometimes...is this it? What 我有 時 候 想...難道我就這樣了嗎？如 would my life be like if I

果我沒 嫁 給你的 爸爸 ，沒有你跟 Vivia

didn’t marry your father and have you and Vivian. Would I n 我會是什麼樣 . be happier? Maybe now I would

會不會 ⽐ 較幸福 ？也 許 我會⼀個⼈來 美

be a successful artist in New York City with my own studio 國 ，現 在是個成 功的 藝術 家，在 紐約 有 and gallery. I allow myself

⾃⼰的 ⼯作 室 ....sometimes I

to dream. But then, as soon

dream.

as I see you, I know - this is where I want to be. Didi, 但 是， 當 我看 ⾒ 你跟 Vivian的 時候 ， being your mother is really

我知道 - 這就是我想要的 ...

difficult, but getting to watch you and Vivian grow up 弟弟， 當 你們的媽媽真的很不容易， 但 here, make friends, and learn

看 ⾒你跟 Vivian在這裡⻑⼤， 交朋友

so many things I can’t teach you, I realize...you are my ，還學了那麼多我教不了你們的 東西 ， dream.] I’m so proud.

我才 明⽩ ...你們才是我的 夢想 .]

(sighs)

I’m so proud.

[But with your dad not

(sighs)

around, and Nai Nai always criticizing me for how I 但 是爸爸 不在家，奶奶 ⼜時 常對我怎麼 raise you and Vivian -

教 育你們 指⼿ 畫腳 -

sometimes it’s really too much. And sometimes I 有 時真的太 過 份 了. think...maybe I failed as a

我會覺得 ...也許 我是個 失敗 的媽媽 .

mother. But I know - no matter what - I must do my 但 我知道 - 不管 怎樣 - best to love you both. That

我 都會盡我所能地 愛護 你們 .

is my duty.] (beat) 這是我的 責任 . But it is a little hard. (beat)

But it is a little hard.

Chungsing chuckles. She gives Wang-Wang a hug. And for once, he lets her.

Dr. Wong clips Wang-Wang’s braces off.

Wang-Wang gurgles and rinses. He rubs his lips and tongue all over his new, naked, slimy teeth -- a new sensation.

Wang-Wang poses in front of a backdrop and beams an awkward tooth-y smile -- like it’s the first time he’s ever smiled.

And photo FLASH. A beam of WHITE fills the screen -

MOMENTS LATER

- and that same tooth-y smile, now imprinted on a rectangle of laminated white plastic. An ASB volunteer parent hands Wang-Wang his Freshman ID card and a MINI COMBO PADLOCK.

Wang-Wang strolls down the hallway, glancing left and right at small cliques of friends walking past him and claiming their locker spots. He searches for an unclaimed locker.

He turns the corner and across the hall, he sees Madi, dressed in Student Body Welcome Back attire.

He stops. Contemplates. Takes a deep breath -- walks over.

Madi clamps her locker shut, resetting her padlock combo.

Madi turns, pleased, surprised, and...are you serious?

Beat. Awkward.

Long beat. Wang-Wang, no rebuttal -- this is true.

Wang-Wang nods. Understood.

Madi walks off, giving him a glimmer of a smile. Wang-Wang takes the hint. Hurts, but proud that he stepped up.

We SHUFFLE through a series of CLOSE UPs on CLASS SCHEDULES, HIGH SCHOOL MERCHANDISE, DIY STUDENT-MADE BANNERS, careening us into the cacophany that is -

- ORIENTATION in full swing. Teenage chaos. Banners and booths everywhere. Hella KIDS yelling and screaming, reuniting with their friends post-summer break.

Wang-Wang walks around, looking at the different options as we DRIFT from booth to booth. Different clubs recruiting fresh meat: DECA, INTERACT, SPEECH AND DEBATE, MECHA, DANCE -- each recruitment spiel dissolving into the next.

Wang-Wang spots Soup checking out the DANCE club booth, Fahad at SPEECH & DEBATE.

Fahad glances over from afar -- they make eye contact.

Beat. Wang-Wang, unsure of what their dynamic is...then -

Fahad shoots Wang-Wang a subtle head nod, the slightest indication of acknowledgment of his presence and the pain of their friendship at the moment - in the most 13-year old way possible.

Wang-Wang reciprocates. Turns back toward the booth.

Wang-Wang scans his surroundings. Then, one booth catches his eye. Its banner: CAMERAS, GRAFFITI, LIGHTS, etc.

He approaches the Visual Arts Club. It’s REP, 15, speaking to a small group of INCOMING FRESHMEN. Wang-Wang joins.

As she speaks, Wang-Wang looks at the interested students. They all look a little artsy and weird in the best way -- he may not know it yet, but these are his people.

A cool-as-shit, down-to-earth GIRL, 13, fills in the sign up sheet. She hands the pen to Wang-Wang.

He grabs it. Takes a look at the form. He signs up.

In scribbly, chicken scratch handwriting, he writes:

Chris Wang

The sun setting, a golden glow over the town. Chungsing waits in the car. Wang-Wang climbs in to the passenger seat.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

Hi, [Didi.]

Hi, 弟弟 .

Chungsing drives off.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[How was today?]

今 天怎麼樣 ?

Beat. Chungsing looks over, smiles.

CHUNGSING CHUNGSING

[Have you eaten yet?]

你吃 過 飯了嗎 ?

Chungsing and Wang-Wang creep down the hallway, passing by Nai Nai’s room -- sleeping. Peacefully snoring.

Wang-Wang sits at the kitchen table. Chungsing pulls a Zong Zi out of the rice cooker, unwraps it for Wang-Wang, and sets it in front of him -- still steaming.

Wang-Wang grabs a pair of chopsticks and scarfs it down. Chungsing sits beside him, watching him eat. This time, she says nothing. She rests her head and observes.

She brushes her hand through Wang-Wang’s hair, moving it out of his face.

Wang-Wang stirs, but doesn’t pull back. He tilts his head up and looks up at his Mom.

She smiles at him and for the first time, he sees her: her strands of white hair, wrinkles, sun spots –– her humanity.

Through their look, a rare moment of affection.

Wang-Wang returns to his food and we revel in this moment of suburban stillness, domestic quiet, a boy -- longing to be something and someone else, but still just a boy -- and his mother’s love.