"FRIENDSHIP" (2025)

Cookie-cutter tract homes disappear into thick fog. The annoying ring of a CELLPHONE interrupts the stillness as a body emerges from the haze. This is CRAIG, 40’s, in a loose suit the same BROWN color of the PACKAGE he’s carrying.

He stops at a SPEED-BUMP and picks a piece of gunk off it. Then curves left toward a house with a Uhaul out front.

He approaches the front door which is in the process of being painted from brown to deep FOREST GREEN. He knocks on the dry part and the door swings open a little.

Craig peers in the house and finds only ominous darkness. He takes an unconscious step back.

The door WHIPS open revealing a modern Marlboro Man. This is Austin, 48. We follow his paint speckled clothes to his HAND- ROLLED CIGARETTE dangling from his lips and landing on his piercing eye-contact.

He MIMES a GUN to his head.

Craig fast-walks back into the fog as he suspiciously peeks back at Austin’s house.

SUPERIMPOSE TITLE: FRIENDSHIP

CLOSE ON:

A coffee mug gets FILLED to it’s absolute maximum.

Craig walks slow as hell with his maxed-out cup. He’s got a giant brown stain on his dress shirt. Coworkers pass him.

IAN, A slick bro in a suit, whips around him.

Craig forces a laugh then gently steps his way to a conference table where ten people wait on him. His Boss, Mr. Mendoza notices.

A number is dialed on speaker phone. Beep.

Mr. Mendoza winks at Craig as the beeps continue. A video on a BIG SCREEN starts to play prematurely. It showcases an APP that looks like a cross between CANDY CRUSH and your racist aunt’s facebook page. Interns scramble to turn it off as...

Craig slowly tries to take a sip as the conference call becomes a deafening cacophony.

A FOR SALE sign stands tall in the yard of a middle class tract home that is the exact model as Austin’s. In the driveway - TAMI, 40, could be a yoga instructor, fails to squeeze another PROFESSIONAL FLOWER ARRANGEMENT into her tiny KIA PRIDE. A Sticker on the door reads “Tami’s Florals.”

A HONDA S2000 in need of a wash pulls up and Craig hops out.

A REALTOR walks a COUPLE out of their home. Tami smiles big as Craig covers his coffee stain with his briefcase.

Tami puts together an arrangement at the packed dining table she uses as her workspace. Again, she has ran out of space - A look of glassy-eyed PANIC comes over her. She sits, puts her hands on her chest and breathes. We notice a prominent tattoo on her wrist.

STEVEN, 16, Nu-Metal dork, rushes over from the microwave.

He puts his hand on her back and she nods and tries to keep it together. Craig, sitting in his worn recliner, looks up from his phone.

Steven hands her a POMEGRANATE on the table and she slowly inhales the sweet scent. This grounds her as Craig goes back to his phone.

They don’t care. The phone rings. Steven answers.

Craig hates this. Steven hands his mom an order slip.

Steven takes a huge plate of nachos out of the microwave and puts them on the table for him and his mom to share. They are clearly close.

Craig walks with four miscellaneous beers in a case that holds six, brown new balances and an old tucked-in t-shirt.

He knocks on the freshly painted door which is now a deep forest green you can almost see your reflection in.

A bowl of fresh Pomegranates sit in the center of the beautiful wooden table he sits at.

Craig looks around at the house which feels lived-in already - earth tones, books, a Native American blanket on the wall. How is this possible?

We can see just a sliver of AUSTIN making a drink in the kitchen. Craig checks his watch.

Austin comes from the kitchen with two beers FILLED RIGHT TO THE BRIM and garnished with an orange wedge. He sets it down effortlessly.

They both laugh. Craig is feeling calmer.

Again, Austin’s eye-contact is good.

Austin puts on a record. Jam-psych stuff. Nothing Craig knows, but the beer is kicking in and he nods along like he does.

He brings out the box that Craig dropped off earlier, opens it slowly, reaches into a layer of white packing peanuts and takes out TEAR-SHAPED ROCK.

Craig holds it with both hands. We stay on his face as he moves from confusion to curiosity...

Craig, awestruck now, looks up revealing a BLOODY NOSE.

Austin hands him a soft paper towel. Craig nervously cleans blood off his face and the tool. It’s on his shirt now too.

A 70’s GMC CONVERTIBLE TRUCK skids to a stop by a locked fence in the middle of nowhere. Austin hops out with a backpack. Craig, in the passenger seat, wears one of Austin’s Triathlon T-shirts - it’s way too small.

Austin picks a lock on the fence and swings the gate open. He flips on a powerful flashlight and swings the beam to a large drainage pipe.

Austin confidently heads toward the pipe.

Craig cautiously run-walks to catch up.

They carefully walk through the 8ft pipe trying to avoid the narrow stream of water trickling down the center. Craig uses his phone light to navigate. His pant cuffs are wet already.

The pipe dead-ends, but continues six feet higher. Austin lifts himself up effortlessly. Craig tries and tries to lift himself up as sounds of struggle echo in the tunnel. It sucks. Austin lets down his hand and tries to lift Craig.

He makes it, barely, but his right SHOE doesn’t.

He shines his light into the abyss of the pipe...

A beam of light pierces a dark boiler room as the two make their way through the labyrinth of pipes.

Austin leads Craig through a large hallway in city hall.

SOMETHING MOVES. Craig let’s out a piercing SCREAM as he falls back.

Austin locks his light down a corridor as Craig ducks behind him. The culprit: a cutout of a man in a suit with text that reads “Re-Elect Nichols”. Austin laughs. Craig does too - hiding the shame.

The city shimmers in the distance. They both sip beers. Craig is giddy as he takes a picture of the city - flash on.

Austin looks at him like he’s scanning for trust then he starts to WELL UP.

Austin comfortably let’s tears fall. Craig avoids eye contact by looking for his house.

Austin stops to collect himself. He takes out a pouch and delicately removes cigarette materials. Craig is unnerved by the silence and tries to fill it.

Austin has laid out two rolling papers and sprinkles them with tobacco like a chef. The sounds are hypnotizing. GOOSEBUMPS ripple up the back of Craig’s neck. A subtle MOAN escapes.

Austin lights the two cigs at once, handing one to Craig who fumbles it. He takes a drag and coughs really hard for way too long. Austin pats him on the back.

Austin’s wheels turn. Interesting.

OMITTED

Tami’s completed BOUQUET sits wild, beautiful and alive on the dining table. Craig is moved by it - still high off his incredible night.

The door opens and Tami enters with leftovers smiling to herself - both surprised to see each other.

It’s awkward for some reason. They both are buzzing.

He looks down at it and gently feels the fabric.

Craig balances a beer, glass of wine and a giant plate of sloppy nachos through a crowd to where Tami stands.

The house lights go down. Craig buries his anger at the nacho comment. The four-piece band comes out in the dark. They got a Rockabilly vibe - upright bass and everything. Austin, in a suit and tie, plugs in his guitar.

People cheer enthusiastically - FANS! He hits a dramatic chord. The drummer does a four-count and the band launches into a song that immediately rules. Craig is floored. He looks over to his wife who mirrors his awe.

Austin spots Craig in the crowd and WINKS. Craig gives him a late and odd wink back.

Craig and Tami approach a sweaty Austin packing up gear.

Austin gives him a passionate hug.

A fit, attractive Brunette in her 40’s enters with drinks and Nachos.

Craig talks with his coworkers Ian and Stan. Behind him are a wall of awards.

Craig holds up his phone displaying some utterly confounding candy-crush/facebook style APP. The screen changes to - INCOMING CALL.

Ian and Stan privately hide smirks.

A vibrant orange Chanterelle MUSHROOM gets plucked and held up revealing Austin as Craig squints at the mushroom. They are in the middle of a wet field between a housing development and a CAR DEALERSHIP.

This really hits Craig. As excitement rises on his face he starts to LOWER out of frame. Wide now we reveal he’s sinking in the mud, but doesn’t know.

Austin easily pulls him back to solid ground. Craig plays it cool as he gets up.

Austin laughs as Craig frantically digs around the mud and grass for his phone.

Craig stops hunting and sits there deeply torn and out of breath. Austin looks off at something in the distance.

They ogle a NEON YELLOW DODGE VIPER in a parking lot.

Brain hugs Craig as they laugh in celebration.

Craig smiles wide feeling really connected to Austin.

The Viper roars down the street as Austin skids around a corner. Craig smiles ear to ear as he hangs on for dear life. Mushrooms spill out of a Ralphs bag at his muddy feet.

BEGIN MONTAGE: There is an odd quality to this montage. It almost looks like a Beer or Levi’s commercial.

Austin introduces Craig to some friends - men in their 40s/50s, different vibes and ethnicities. They drink and laugh and make Craig feel comfortable.

Austin plays guitar to a wild crowd. He whips to the drummer - CRAIG with THICKER HAIR. They rock out. Tami watches proudly from the crowd.

A woman screams. Craig runs into Austin’s backyard to discover him unconscious on the ground. Bianca, feeling powerless, weeps.

Craig easily picks Austin up, like a parent would carry a sleeping toddler to bed, and rushes to the street.

We are in a APOCALYPTIC future on Craig and Austin’s dark block. Craig carries a bundle of wood as he approaches a communal bonfire by his speed bump. People pat him on the back, praising him.

The whole neighborhood cheers. Craig dumps the wood on the fire as he smiles big.

END MONTAGE.

Tami awakes to Craig shaking her.

He scurries away leaving her teased.

Chanterelle mushrooms sizzle in a pan as the RAMONES blare. Tami enters as he takes biscuits out of the oven.

Steven enters this abnormal morning.

On the table are some beautiful odd looking plants. Tami studies them.

Steven takes a bite of a biscuit.

He grabs another and heads off to school. Tami lets her suspicion fade as she enjoys this rare moment. Craig smiles at her feeling totally alive.

Craig eagerly walks over his speed bump with TWO EXPENSIVE SIX PACKS OF BEER, a nice sports jacket and his good New Balances.

He gets to Austin’s door. We can hear a decent size group of loud men in there. He tries the door - it opens.

Craig hesitantly enters the kitchen and nods to a few guys who clearly go way back.

Austin see’s him from across the room and comes over.

They cheer and roll back into convo’s and inside jokes. Austin gets side tracked as Craig cracks a beer and leans against the counter unsure where to go.

A USA GOLD cigarette glows from a hardy drag. Craig tries to hold a cough in like an amateur then takes a swig of beer to settle.

The sliding door closes. Craig is alone now and turns away from the house to hide a ton of anxiety.

He puts out the cigarette, does a quick stretch then confidently turns back and WHACK - he walks right into the SLIDING GLASS DOOR. Everyone inside turns to look. A few beats pass as Craig holds his nose. No blood.

He puts a thick smile over his embarrassment and picks up his Coors that hit the ground - it didn’t break.

The door SHATTERS in a waterfall of shards. Holy shit. Everyone is in shock as the crash settles. Silence.

Everyone erupts in laughter. A Hail Mary save.

The guys are all sitting around in a rough circle. Craig admires some drums and amps pushed into a corner as he ices his GOOSE EGG. A new bud hands him a fresh beer.

Garrett gets a pat on the back. Craig is floored. He’s never seen men open up like this before.

Zed starts to SING. Laughter and excitement ripple though the guys. One starts to join in. Then another. This is a goddamn A CAPELLA GROUP. Craig is dumbfounded.

Austin takes a solo. The whole group closes with a long sustained note. Craig joins in totally off key as Austin shoots him a wink.

Two guys SPAR with BOXING GLOVES and headgear as the others cheer. One dad loses.

They point to Craig and Austin. He shakes his head, but is encouraged by the group. Austin throws him a wink.

They all hoot and holler. A jovial feeling spreads through Craig as gloves and headgear get put on him. He squares up across from Austin.

The joke LANDS and the fight starts. Some light playful body jabs get thrown then Austin lands a hardy punch on Craig’s nose.

They start to spare again. Craig bounces around - He SLIPS as Austin throws a hook that tags Craig in the nose. He bends over. The fight stops. He checks for a bloody nose. Nothing.

Craig, clearly still in pain, gives a silent a thumbs up.

Craig SUCKER PUNCHES Austin twice sending him limp to the concrete. Bottles crash.

Austin is glazed. Someone asks him where he’s at. The mood is tense. Craig takes his gloves off.

Austin nods that he is ok.

Craig nervously smiles. Austin sits up. They take the headgear off him.

The guys throw Craig dirty looks. Austin sprints to the mirror to fix his hair. It’s perfect. He calms down.

Craig can’t help, but feel the overwhelming strangeness in the room. A nice joke will save the day.

He spots a bar of soap next to the garage sink.

He puts the ENTIRE bar of soap into his mouth.

He laughs, but no one else does. Then he chews it up and spits into the sink. He washes his mouth out with a swig of beer as he scans for laughs - nothing. Just disdain and confusion. JARED, 55, breaks the ice first...

The garage door opens. They start to get their stuff together, collect beer bottles, say goodbyes. Craig washes his mouth out again, but with water.

JAMES, 17, an easy and confident handsome skater kid with pink hair enters with a motorcycle helmet. Austin and him playfully rough house.

He grabs the kid’s phone and moves it up and down.

Craig is stunned by the ease he has with his son. Friends say goodbye to Austin as they pass by Craig.

Austin turns. Craig dribbles a pretend basketball and takes a shot toward the hoop in the driveway.

Austin politely smiles then closes the garage door. Craig watches James ride off on a DIRT BIKE then waves to one of the guys driving away. The street gets quiet very fast as he walks over his speed bump back home under a cold moonless sky.

Craig sits in his office lost in thought as he looks down at a circle of coworkers laughing on a smoke break. He picks up his office phone and dials. It goes to Voicemail.

Tami is doing her calming breathing exercises. The front door opens and she stiffens a little. Craig enters.

She nods and opens her eyes.

Craig lights up seeing a BIG BOX in the living room. He takes Tami’s florist scissors and tears it open revealing GREEN DRUMS.

Tami peers into the box and she looks up with a smile.

Craig does a FUN KNOCK on the green door. After a moment Bianca answers with a smile that fades.

Austin comes to the door in an OLD WORLD COSTUME.

Austin comes out and closes the door for privacy.

Austin puts his hand on Craig’s shoulder triggering his ASMR - goosebumps ripple up his neck. A moan escapes.

Austin closes the door leaving a blank Craig who turns and rolls the big box down the block. He really struggles to get the wagon over his speed bump.

On a TV SCREEN is testing lab footage: A teen girl in a white room looks distraught.

The video pauses as Craig steps in front of the screen.

Twelve corporate types around a conference table clap. Craig smiles big and proud. He seems fine.

Everyone realizes that he’s not joking now.

They all say their goodbyes until its just Mr. Mendoza and a few Coworkers left who all stare at down Craig.

Craig briskly walks to his car trying to outpace the shame.

A LOUD BEEP as TONY, a young male Verizon Employee with a PONY TAIL scans an item. The store feels soulless.

Craig studies the display a little too long.

The Employee holds up his phone - SAME CASE.

Craig laughs. Feels a connection brewing. A few beats pass.

A familiar voice draws his eye up to a tv in the corner. Austin is doing the weather at a Shopping Center. He’s effortless. Fuck.

Craig grabs his purchase and heads for the door.

Craig logs that info.

A dozen couples sit in a circle. One woman is bald, another has a wig. Tami sits and listens attentively. Craig is next to her spacing out into his coffee.

Tami raises her hand.

He puts his arm around her.

Craig gives a serious nod.

Tami looks to Craig. He’s blank.

Craig enters an open sound stage door and wanders the halls. If someone passes him he looks at his computer then inspects something close by like he’s deep in thought.

The sound of the morning show theme song pulls Craig down the hall like a spell. He finds himself on the morning show set. REBECCA SPRINGS, 40’s, the show’s beloved host, finds her mark. Austin is moments away from doing the weather. He does a double-take when he notices Craig. It throws him off. 3-2-1 He’s on....

Craig watches as they banter. Austin seems a bit tense and nervous. They have him dressed like Ryan Seacrest. He launches into the weather. Craig sees the teleprompter and mouths along.

They go to commercial. Austin walks up to Craig.

A producer and intern comes over and starts dressing Austin in traditional golf attire - plaid jacket, hat, golf shoes.

One of the MORNING HOSTS comes over.

An AD yells out “30 seconds!”

The child golfer arrives. They introduce him to Austin who turns on the charm. Craig introduces himself to the kid.

Austin is fully dressed like a old-time golfer now.

He takes out his phone.

Austin is ushered on set by a producer. Craig watches with a big dumb confused smile.

Craig sprints away.

A group of COWORKERS smoke together in the business park courtyard. Craig walks up and pulls out a cigarette.

They are all already smoking. He listens to the small talk and tries to join in. There is much more “locker room” in these guys than in Austin’s friends.

No one says anything.

He blasts his cig hard to hide the rage.

Craig and his COWORKERS all sit in a LOW ENERGY circle, smoking, drinking, nearly silent. A man’s wife is there.

Quiet again. Now’s the time to take things deeper.

The guys laugh.

Craig walks over to a shelf and conveniently retrieves a wooden box. He slowly and dramatically opens the lid and pulls out a DAGGER.

Ian crudely snatches it.

The dagger its passed around.

They don’t know what he means.

In the corner are his new drums arranged just so.

They egg him on.

He takes a big swig of beer and gets behind the set.

He gives himself a 5 count for some reason and launches into an extremely loud and ugly attempt at punk. It sounds like complete shit. A cymbal falls off the stand and he stops to pick it up. It falls on the wife.

Craig rummages in a box a pulls out two pairs of boxing gloves. oh no...

Craig snaps.

He pounds the garage door button. It slowly creaks open.

The deafening screech of garage door opens and makes it even more awkward. In the distance Austin is outside his own house with his son.

They are so confused.

Craig leads the group like the Pied Piper of losers. They cautiously follow him down the street.

Austin is tuning up his son’s dirt bike.

Austin looks up and is confused to find Craig leading ten men toward him.

He hands him a beer.

Austin nods hello then says goodbye to his son. As he drives off Craig plugs his ears.

Huge laughs from the group. Craig laughs a little too.

It clicks for the group now. They’re stoked. Austin couldn’t be more charming.

Everyone laughs.

Everyone laughs.

They all laugh.

The guys laugh.

No one wants to proceed down this convo. Austin looks up at the night sky.

The guys all turn their heads to the heavens.

Everyone is in awe. Tears roll down Stan’s face.

No one responds. Craig lights up a cig.

They all say “nice to meet you.”

He dribbles a pretend basketball around some of the guys and shoots toward the hoop. He throws his hands up like it was the game winning shot. The guys cheer. They love it!

He leaves and closes the garage. The guys start to wander back towards Craig’s. It’s quiet.

The guys agree to go to Rick’s.

It’s quiet again. The guys disperse to their cars until it’s just STAN walking behind Craig.

Craig enters his garage and closes the screeching door on him. Craig turns and flinches - Nathan’s wife is still there.

We stare dead center on the psychedelic bud of a MOTH ORCHID.

Craig sits at the table lost in a drum lesson by a twelve year old on youtube. Steven enters and heads for the fridge.

He glances at it, but just sees a banal flower.

Steven heads for the door.

Tami flinches.

A small brown unidentified mushroom gets picked. Craig is in a large FIELD at the edge of town. There is scattered trash, power lines overhead and a CANAL his son walks toward.

Stevie picks up a mushroom like a dead rat by the tail.

Craig pops two in his mouth. He hides how much he hates the earthy taste.

He tosses his shroom high in the air as Craig tries to catch it in his mouth, but it bonks his head and he SLIPS.

Craig and Steven sit on a bench with GIGANTIC SODAS. Both have bad eye-contact. Craig is looking PALE and SWEATY.

Steven pulls out his phone. Craig digs deep. Time to connect.

Craig suddenly RIPS the LID off his soda and THROWS UP into a mostly full cup. What a mess.

Stevie blends into the crowd as a kiosk clerk calls security.

A STRONG RAIN pours down on CRAIG as he smokes a cig and runs to the office. His key card isn’t working. He bangs on the glass.

The SQUISH of wet shoes echo in the hall. Craig enters a conference where a dozen or so people wait. He’s fucking soaked.

The guys from boys night try to hide smirks.

He pulls a laptop out of a bag filled with water.

He clicks a remote and very DULL commercials of MAYOR SETH NICHOLS plays on a TV in the corner.

Big laughs. Craig looks around - people avert his gaze.

He scans the room again. People still look away.

Tami struggles to fit a few gorgeous bouquets in her KIA PRIDE as Craig pulls up.

He grabs bouquet which reveals a THICK ENVELOPE. He stares down at it - Austin’s full name carefully handwritten by a stranger. A bright red wet drop hits the label. He looks up revealing a bloody nose.

Tami wiggles in the driver seat - her face surrounded by flowers.

Craig waves bye to her as he enters his garage and closes the door, waits until he hears the car putter away then turns toward Austin’s with the envelope.

Craig knocks on the green door. Nothing. Then rings the bell. Nothing. No one is home. He tries to door - locked.

He heads back to his house then stops to look at his watch then casually scans the neighborhood. The coast is clear - he fast walks to Austin’s SIDE GATE and HOPS the fence with absolutely no grace.

His hand is scraped. He picks himself up and swipes the dirt off.

Nervously, he slowly walks into...

He stops in front of the first window he comes upon. He tries it. Locked.

Nope. He he keeps walking and finds a tarp over the window he smashes. He peels it back slowly.

Craig cautiously step inside. He pauses to listen. It’s so quiet. He hops down and tip toes around the house. It’s filled with bright beautiful sun.

Craig tiptoes back to the kitchen and washes his scraped hand in the sink. He notices a few dirty dishes and begins to clean them gently and thoroughly, setting them carefully in the drying rack.

He pretends to greet guests at a party.

He heads down the hallway and stops at a picture of James. He gives it the finger.

Craig sits at Austin’s desk. The handaxe sits there on display. He slowly grabs, letting the sun hit the ancient object. He opens a few drawers.

He puts the handaxe down and reaches back in the closet, carefully taking out a HANDGUN. It’s clearly his first time holding a real gun. He studies it closely.

A cell phone RINGS. He flinches. Oh! It’s his phone.

The cacophony begins.

SHIT. He is NOT alone.

He fast tip-toes out.

Craig RIPS THROUGH the plastic covering up the sliding door.

He speed walks then realizes he’s STILL holding the gun. Panicked, he tucks it into his waistband.

He hops the fence, doesn’t stick the landing and phone goes flying.

Light laughter on the line as he grabs it and fast walks.

He’s breathing is labored as he scans for witnesses.

Craig wraps the gold gun in newspaper and tucks it behind a dumpster. He pauses and looks at A Real Estate Sign - HIS sign! He tucks the gun under some trash and leaves.

Craig is lost deeeeeep in thought at work.

Tami is busy cooking dinner. Jazz music blasts and she’s referencing multiple cookbooks.

Craig enters and see’s Tami is dressed up, red lipstick on.

He dials some random numbers.

The oven dings. Tami buries her disappointment as she takes an amazing casserole out of the oven.

She looks at all the food she has been making.

She returns back to the food. Her lust for life deflated. Craig feels awful. Enough is enough.

Off Tami’s confused look...

Craig pulls up to the drainage pipe. He pops out and turns on a flashlight on his phone.

He shines the light into the endless darkness of the pipe and feels a wave of terror.

They try their best to avoid the filthy water then come to a fork in the pipe.

They arrive at the part where Craig lost his shoe.

He gives Tami a boost up the ledge. She climbs to her feet and looks down at him.

She gives him an exhausted and angry look then disappears into the darkness. Her wheels turn.

She looks at him in a way we haven’t seen before and disappears into the dark. Craig runs toward the ledge, jumps, and smashes his flashlight. He struggles and barely makes it up the ledge.

He turns on the light on his phone and swings it around. Tami is nowhere to be found.

He fast-walks deeper into the pitch black pipe.

He comes to a three way fork that heads is opposite directions. He doesn’t recognize this.

He dials 911 - no service. He listens - only running water...WAIT...was that a distant voice? He takes off down a pipe. The phone slips out. SPLASH. Craig drops to his knees frantically searching for it.

He takes out a lighter. The measly flame illuminating his terrified face.

Steven is at the dinner table playing a confounding FIRST PERSON SHOOTER/CANDY CRUSH game while talking on the house phone. His ugly guy friend is next to him eating realllllllly slow. Craig, pale and wet, enters shellshocked, but trying to hide it.

Craig watches his screen for a second.

The DOORBELL. Craig turns with suspicion. He walks over and answers revealing a tough COP, OFFICER WHITMER, with a K9. The dog BARKS a nasty one at him. Craig flinches.

Craig notices Austin standing on the sidewalk.

The K9 barks again.

Steven and his friend come to the door.

Police lift a K9 search dog onto the ledge where we last saw Tami. Craig is watching the chaos. DETECTIVE BELVIDERE, a large man, tries to make sense of it all.

We see Austin is there too.

Craig watches Austin lead the group.

Officer Whitmer goes to arrest Craig who backs away in a panic.

They handcuff him.

Craig sits with an angry Austin in a piss soaked cell. A few drunks having an bad night sit slumped in there with them. Detective Belvidere peers through the other side of the bars.

The Detective walks away shaking his head.

Craig notices Austin is clearly angry.

A curious cop, LIEUTENANT JAMES, pops his head in.

Austin lays on the charm like a politician on the campaign trail.

Austin drops the facade and turns back to Craig with a death stare.

Austin gets up and slips on piss. His perfect hair FALLS OFF revealing the top of his head to be completely BALD.

Craig screams.

Austin frantically puts the TOUPEE back on.

He checks his reflection in the piss puddle. Lieutenant James returns with two other cops.

Austin snaps right into politician-mode. He’s almost Obama like. The cops open the door and take a picture with him.

Austin leaves without looking back. Craig watches them go. What the hell happened?

The house SUPER CLEAN. Craig enters confused.

His son peeks out of his room. JEN PEYSER, a teen girl, is in his bed.

Steven slams the door rattling the dishes in the kitchen.

He looks over at Tami’s work table. There is a half-finished bouquet waiting for her to come back and give it life. The phone rings.

Craig looks for a pen only to come face to face with one of Tami’s ORCHID’S - The same kind she expressed awe and he ignored. It’s RADIANT now. He collapses taking the whole phone base out of the wall with him, sobbing into the carpet.

Craig feverishly finishes the last touches on his pitch at his desk. He looks awful. Mr. Mendoza steps in with concern and sympathy.

He reaches for a mug where there is no mug and plays it off as a stretch.

MAYOR SETH NICHOLS sits with his team at one end of the table. Other coworkers are there.

ON SCREEN: Mayor Seth = A Good Friend.

On SCREEN: Pics of the Mayor photoshopped into peoples’ profile pictures.

Craig is actually doing a great job and Mayor Seth Nichols seems pleased. Mr. Mendoza cuts Craig short to end on a high note.

Craig is caught by surprise and puts on an ever bigger smile as Ian hops up like a happy little prick.

People shift in their seats.

On SCREEN: A HIGH-OCTANE spec commercial of The Mayor as a SUPERHERO with a cape, gold documents, holding the hand of a boy. The Mayor smiles wide.

His team murmurs with excitement. Something churns inside Craig. He takes a massive swig of java.

“Pig fuck” comes out with spit.

He steps aggressively toward the Mayor as coworkers hold him back.

Craig watches the smokers from his window replay the meeting for people who weren’t there. They mimic Craig lunging at the Mayor and the SCUFFLE that ensued after. The guy playing Craig hits the ground and he scatters change everywhere.

Craig looks up to find a security guard and Mr. Mendoza waiting for him.

The office phone rings. He answers out of habit.

He automatically stands.

He gets another call: CLOVIS POLICE DEPT.

Austin hangs up, but Craig doesn’t. After a beat he hits the other line.

Tami sits on the couch with a thousand yard stare. She’s wet and filthy, wrapped in an EMERGENCY BLANKET. Steven brings her tea - he’s been crying. There are cheap flower arrangements everywhere from relatives and friends. Craig shows the last Cop out then sits in the living room. It’s very tense.

She doesn’t react. Time to cut the shit.

She gets up and heads for the bedroom. Her crinkly emergency blanket is extraordinarily noisy, causing Craig to grimace and cover his ears as she leaves. She slams the door. It rattles the dishes in the cabinets.

The roar of FORTY PEOPLE fill their humble home. Craig stands against the wall like a stranger. He knows NOBODY there, but Tami knows everyone. How? A large man sits in his recliner laughing and rocking violently back and forth. A local NEWS CREW enters. Fuck.

The dining table is covered with all kinds of goodies. Craig proceeds to pile his plate high and wide with mac n’ cheese and a loaded baked potato. People are in his way, but he perseveres. Two women point at him and whisper. He feels judged.

Craig sits in the garage behind his drum set using his snare as a table. The party roars inside. He take a bite then picks up his Dagger artifact and taps the cymbal. The door swings open.

Patton stares Craig up and down. The man has a “Vietnam vet” hat and a shirt that also says “Vietnam vet.”

The man doesn’t flinch then after a beat disappears back into the house leaving Craig with his shame.

Craig, on a mission, zigzags to the center the room where he attempts to make a toast by tapping a beer bottle with a DRUM STICK. No one pays attention. He stands on a chair.

No reaction.

People clap. The chair tips, but he regains his balance.

Tami looks at him with a soft smile. He’s doing it! Then a male voice (deeper) from the other side of the room takes everyone’s attention away.

It’s a fit FIREFIGHTER in a tight blue tee-shirt with the name of his station on it. Everyone turns.

People laugh. Even Craig, but then he remembers he’s mad.

HUGE applause. Tami looks like she is gazing at her favorite Orchid again.

Everyone raises their glasses.

He instantly regrets saying that.

Everyone toasts.

The crowd splits revealing Austin. The news crew is shooting all this.

Hoots and hollers.

Austin ignores him.

Craig stumbles off the chair and high-knees through the crowd like a band leader.

Craig stands in his yard like an excited pied piper after blowing a few notes on his flute. The door remains closed. Not a soul follows and the party regains it’s roar.

He sits on the grass, lights cigarette, and leans against the For Sale sign.

Craig wakes to find himself in an empty bed.

Craig enters groggy from bad sleep.

Steven is on the couch eating a leftover bake potato with Jen Peyser who we saw in his bedroom.

Steven nods to the tv. We see Tami sitting with the LOCAL MORNING NEWS. Austin is there of course.

He watches them playfully do the weather together. Craig sits on the couch transfixed.

AUSTIN TAMI

And Sun is... ...on the way!

Austin GRACEFULLY points along the Doppler Radar edge of the passing storm. Goosebumps ripple down the back of Craig’s neck - ASMR. An involuntary moan escapes.

Tami laughs hard - harder than we’ve seen her laugh.

Commercial break.

Steven packs up his school stuff.

Jen Peyser nods a shy hello and Stevie gets up to leave.

Stevie grabs a school project and heads for the door.

Craig turns back on TV: Tami is about to teach Austin and the anchors how to arrange flowers.

Alone, Craig dials on a payphone in a back dimly lit hall.

Craig returns to a tall BOOT-SHAPED glass filled with dark beer. The place is pretty empty outside of a few scattered barflies alone at the bottom of their own abyss. Is he one of them now?

Tami enters with a face of studio makeup, high from the attention of local tv. Craig greets her dressed for what could be a wedding.

She floats about the house. Craig is like a puppy at her heels.

She ends up on the kitchen and takes her pills with excitement.

Tami gets a call and she heads to the living room and sits.

Craig follows and gently lands in his recliner. There are no lights on in the house and it’s getting darker by the second.

Tami doesn’t respond, but we can tell she just retreated further from him. He needs to dig down deep to try to connect.

Craig is backlit against the sliding glass doors as the last moments of light disappear. Tami reaches over and turns on a lamp and sits with her distant thoughts.

She tries to put her glass down somewhere, but every surface is covered by flowers people sent. Her eyes close as her hands move to her chest - the trembling sensations of a panic attack are coming. Inhale. Exhale.

She breathes. Calming herself. The silence makes Craig nervous.

Exhale. She softens back into her body. Her eyes open and avoid him completely.

Craig is stunned.

Her phone dings, she picks it up and walks to the bedroom SLAMMING the door. The dishes in the kitchen rattle.

BEEP! - A new phone is scanned.

He looks up at the tv in the corner. It’s off.

They lock eyes then Tony turns to another Employee.

He gestures for Craig to follow.

They’re alone in the small storage space.

The kid laughs as he reaches into a backpack and takes out a little tank. Inside is a wet Toad.

He gestures the frog toward Craig.

Tony nods and Craig becomes increasingly nervous.

Screw it. Craig pulls out cash and pays him. The teen puts down some folded cardboard boxes.

SHAMANIC FLUTE plays from a YouTube video on T-boy’s phone as he picks up the dripping amphibian from the tank and holds it toward Craig.

Craig, like ripping off a band-aide, licks the back of the frog and lays down in nervous anticipation. The kid puts the frog back in the tank and turns off the lights.

T-boy gives him a caring nod and closes the door. Craig lays there in the dark. Nothing so far. He looks over at the Toad sitting in shallow water like an alien.

He turns to the CEILING and tries to relax. We slowly zoom in on the banality of a light fixture until the frame is completely dark.

Then, seamlessly, out of the darkness walks an awestruck Craig.

Craig continues walking into a...

An OLD MAN SANDWICH ARTIST with a strange amount of energy smiles at Craig.

This is banal and familiar. Nothing psychedelic to be found.

He watches the Old Man prepare the bread. Closer now the old man LOOKS LIKE AUSTIN aged forty years. We see it, but Craig doesn’t.

Some dinky video game sounds take his attention to a TEEN GIRL at a table playing some stupid fucking game on her phone. Craig has no reaction.

They wait in odd silence as the bread toasts.

The florescent lights come on as Craig’s eyes open. T-boy stares down at him with a Rolo in his mouth.

Craig sits up and finds that he has PISSED his nice OVD’S.

Craig stands wet with a towel around his waist having no idea what to do with himself. He lazily takes his new phone out of the packaging and turns it on. The first screen glows: “Hello, Welcome to your new life.” A bolt of RAGE shoots through him as he SHATTERS the phone against the dresser.

He looks down at the mess and rights a picture that has fallen over - it’s of a very happy TAMI, with a bouquet, posing in front of her KIA pointing to the ‘TAMI’S FLORALS’ sign on the car door. This must have been her first day in business.

We begin a MONTAGE similar to Act 1, but this feels like something out of Tree Of Life.

OMITTED

Craig wakes up alone in bed. Most of the furniture has been moved out and there is a deep loneliness in the room, but he rises to start the day. Inhale.

The living room is feeling empty and sparse. Tami’s work area/dining room is completely cleaned out. There is just a folding table and his recliner.

A parking ticket gets slid onto an icy windshield. We pan up to see Craig in a PARKING OFFICER’S uniform continue on his route. A man in the car starts aggressively honking!

Craig gets his haircut by Steven. He finishes.

Craig looks in the mirror.

Steven sits.

Craig is sweating while he attempts to eat the Seal Team Six lunch by himself. He turns to a BAR FLY holding a disposable camera.

OMITTED

Steven is out to dinner with Craig.

We reveal Tami is at the table. She got a new haircut and is glowing. Time has clearly passed.

There is an pregnant moment as he leaves. They let it be silent.

Craig smiles. He puts parmesan on his pasta with an exaggerated confidence.

Someone bumps Tami’s chair real hard.

She tries to hide it, but we recognize the glassy-eyed panic start to set in. Craig simmers. He digs down deep.

It’s a decent size fella a couple drinks in sitting with some equally intimidating guys.

The man stares him down.

It looks like Small John is not gonna back down.

Small John lets this one go and turns to Tami.

They return to dinner as Craig courses with adrenaline. He brings his drink to his lips, but his hand trembles from fear.

A bunch of waiters come over singing with a cake. They put a paper crown on Steven.

A TOWN & COUNTRY VAN with a big YELLOW bow turns onto the street and drives toward camera.

Tami drives as Steven flips through the radio.

She looks to Craig. He smiles.

They drive past Austin’s house. A shinny new NEON YELLOW DODGE VIPER sits outside. Everyone stars at it as they pass.

Craig lets all the feelings that rush to the surface wash through him in a long EXHALE. He turns his focus to Tami and Stevie and smiles. Maybe the Toad did something after all.

There is a dinky happy birthday banner up. Tami takes in the house. It’s been a while. The family is feeling all kinds of things. Steven points to a brown package.

Craig slowly takes it. Tami studies him. He looks back up, no bloody nose. It’s just mail.

Craig gets a cake out of the fridge. Tami looks around. It’s strange, but they are trying their best.

There is some awkward silence.

They take turns hitting each other in the abs and laughing. This feels really nice for both of them.

She nods with a soft smile. There is a feeling that maybe, just maybe, there is hope for them. Steven comes back.

He exits the home and stops to take in Austin’s house. He shakes his head with a giggle. He looks up at the moon. She’s a beauty.

The van backs up - on the side is a new professional sign reading “Tami’s Florals.” He drives off in the opposite direction. We hold on the peaceful empty street for a few moments. Music swells to signify a happy ending. What a journey this has been for Cra...

The sound of screeching tires. Oh no.

THE VAN comes SKIDDING back around the corner.

Craig, crazed, SPEEDS toward the neon yellow viper.

BOOM! The van hits Craig’s SPEED BUMP at 90mph - ALL FOUR tires leave the ground then SLAM the pavement in a BLOOM of SPARKS and EAR-PIERCING NOISE. The van ends up on the sidewalk with the Viper behind him untouched.

He catches his breath while the radio plays a wobbling broken buzz.

The van makes a lurching U-turn, smoking now, and dies before he can park it properly. He gets out as a neighbor peeks behind a curtain. Craig throws a neighborly wave as he approaches..

Behind the deep green door are sounds of men laughing. Austin’s friends. His friends! He tries the door - locked!

Here he comes. Over the fence and whoa...he lands on both feet.

He heads to the back...

Zed turns to see Craig and flinches. Craig opens the fridge.

Guys we haven’t seen in a bit notice his presence. A hush falls over the room as a concerned Austin approaches.

Austin walks up to him.

Craig bananas around Austin to go deeper into the house. He lands by some snacks and helps himself.

Austin gestures for Craig to follow him to the door.

Nothing. Silence. Austin takes a step toward him.

Craig reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out Austin’s GUN - Everyone freezes. He keeps it casually at his side.

A man we don’t recognize at all, JIMP, 50’s, speaks up.

He launches into a version of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” He points the gun around the room and everyone reluctantly sings Whitney Houston at gunpoint.

It quickly becomes an oddly beautiful rendition as if this song is in their rotation.

AUSTIN LEAPS for the weapon. Craig swings the gun around. A SHOT! Austin dives. The guys duck for cover.

The chaos settles.

He moves up revealing the top of his head is BALD. Craig see’s him scrambling to put on the toupee.

BANG! He fires into the ceiling. BANG! Another.

Austin is straightening the toupee back on now. He looks terrified. Craig, out of breath, winks at him. Austin settles.

The WHIRR and LIGHTS of approaching Sirens fill the room.

Fuck. Craig turns and SPRINTS for the back door and CRASH - glass shatters everywhere.

The deep green door opens revealing Austin looking heroic with a barely-conscious Craig in his arms bathed in police light. A few of the guys follow them out. Craig smiles up at Austin lovingly and relaxed. Austin cringes as he...

Austin carries him past the cops and stands him up on the driveway. When he does this we see that Craig is no longer covered in blood, no longer bathed in police light. The garage door opens and the rest of the friends come out.

The other guys say goodbye. It’s like they ALL are good friends. Austin laughs as he heads back into the garage.

The garage closes as Craig walks over his speed bump back home under a full moon.

Craig is in the back of the police car covered in blood. He watches Austin and his friends together in the driveway.

They talk to cops, comfort each other and laugh that the insanity is over. This is something that will probably make them closer. Austin turns and throws him a subtle wink.

Craig smiles through big wet tears.

SUPERIMPOSE TITLE: FRIENDSHIP