Fade in:
INT/EXT. SOUTH CAROLINA – NIGHT
KYLER (athletic/popular 17 year old, male) talks to FIN (scrawny/smart 17 year old male) about another girl, while they talk on face-time.
FIN
I’m telling you, she totally likes you man. Every girl likes you.
KYLER
I hear you, I hear you, but, she wouldn’t give me the look.
FIN
What look?
KYLER
You know the look, c’mon man.
FIN
I’m serious, what look?
Kyler proceeds to look at Fin in a way that makes Fin genuinely uncomfortable.
FIN (CONT’D)
(Laughs)
Gross dude.
KYLER
When someone really likes you, they’ll give you this look, and you’ll just see it in their eyes. It’s like giving you the green-light.
Fin gives a faint smile that fades.
FIN
I don’t think I’ve got anything close to “the look”.
KYLER
Well obviously dude, all you do is sit in your room and study, I mean when are you gonna come out with us and party, I know it’s not your speed but how are you gonna find a girl if you never look.
FIN
I know man, but It’s just not the right time, It’s about to be my senior year, and If I keep working I’ll get a good enough scholarship so I can go to Clemson.
Fin looks towards his bedroom wall and looks at the picture of him and his dad, at a Clemson football game.
FIN (CONT’D)
You know it’s been tough since Dad got sick, and there’s no way Mom can afford to send me to Clemson without a big scholarship. I have to keep studying—I’m exhausted, but I can’t lose focus.
KYLER
You’ve been working really hard, we’ve all noticed, but you need a break, come out with us tonight.
Finn looks out his window and sees a bunch of football players riding around in the back of a lifted truck. Clearly having the time of their lives and having far too much to drink.
KYLER (CONT’D)
It’ll be funnnnn.
Fin looks over his shoulder at a white board that reads
1. Drink water.
2. Eat more protein.
3. Don’t let Kyler Influence you.
Fin erases the third rule.
FIN
Fine.
Kyler lets out an excited “yes!” and then looks back at the phone.
KYLER
Soooo, you’ll be our DD?
FIN
(Laughs)
Sure, but I’ve got dibs on the music.
KYLER
ugh damn it, okay, but if you even try to play the Burger King song again I will literally jump out the window.
FIN
AT B-K! HAVE IT YOUR WAY!
Fin Pauses so Kyler will finish it.
KYLER
(Pauses)
I’m not finishing it
FIN
You’re no fun.
KYLER
You’re no fun. You are the one that wants to study all the time, we should just drop out of school and become pirates, c’mon Fin that’s the life, to be pirates with your best friend.
FIN
(Laughs)
Shut up Kye.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. FIN AND KYLER’S 10TH BIRTHDAY.
“Kids” by MGMT play as 10-year-old boys play in the yard.
The boys hear their name called by FINS DAD (late 30’s, Tall, Glasses)
FIN’S DAD
Okay boys, I hope the both of you had an amazing birthday. Time for cake!
KYLER
I’m so excited I could die.
FIN
Cake has never sounded so good.
FIN’S DAD
Half chocolate for Kyler, half vanilla for Fin.
FIN’S MOM
While I was out getting the cake I noticed they only had one candle left, so I’m sure you both can blow out the candle.
FIN
Noooo! I want to.
KYLER
I want to too. I don’t wanna share.
FIN’S DAD
Well guys, you know the rules
KYLER
Dibs!
FIN’S DAD
Alright that settles it.
Fin watches jealously as Kyler blows out their candle and makes a wish.
FIN
(whispers)
I never call dibs first, it’s not fair.
Fin’s dad sees that Fin is upset, and walks over to talk to him.
FIN’S DAD
Fin, what’s the matter, this is your cake too, just because Kyler blew out the candles doesn’t mean it’s only his birthday. This is your day too, You know Kyler doesn’t have anyone that would throw him a party. It’s the right thing to be there for him.
FIN
It’s not that dad, I never call anything first, I’m too slow it’s not fair!
FIN’S DAD
Listen Fin, the secret to calling dibs is staying focused, if you let your emotions get the best of you or take your eye off the ball, it’s easy to slip, it’s just like baseball, you have to keep your eye on the ball.
Fin lifts his head up and nods.
FIN’S DAD (CONT’D)
You just have to limit distractions, and stay focused, you’ll get it champ.
Fin smiles at his dad.
FIN
Thanks dad.
FINS DAD
And look, I wanted to give you something for your birthday, it’s something my dad gave me when I was around your age… you’re growing up.
Fin grabs the present from his dad and begins to unwrap it.
FIN
You’re giving me the bro code book?!
FINS DAD
I don’t need it anymore, it belongs to you.
FIN
Thank you.
FINS DAD
Follow these rules and you’ll live a life worth remembering, and your friends will be with you to share it. That’s what it’s all about.
FIN
Thank you so much!
FIN’S DAD
Of course kid, I love you, now go get some cake and have fun.
BACK TO SCENE
We see Fin sitting on his bed and his copy of the worn down bro code lying next to him.
FIN
You’re lucky you’re athletic so you don’t have to try in school, you’ll have a scholarship waiting for you the moment you step foot on campus.
KYLER
Thanks to your dad, my deadbeat dad wouldn’t have practiced with me if I paid him, I mean he has yet to come to one of my games.
FIN
Maybe he’ll make one this year.
KYLER
Maybe, (Pauses) your dad wouldn’t miss one of our games for the world. I don’t know where I would have been without his help.
FIN
Yeah, he really cared about us didn’t he.
KYLER
I know he did.
Kyler gets quiet.
KYLER (CONT’D)
I got to go hop in the shower, but we’ll pick you up at 9?
FIN
Sounds good, tell everyone they better not expect much from me, I’m just here to make sure everyone gets home.
KYLER
Okay Okay, see you later buddy.
FIN
See you in a sec Kyler.
End Call.
Finn sits back in his chair and looks through pictures of him and his dad he scrolls through a few and on the third one he sees a picture of him, his dad, and Kyler.
Kyler is holding an all-star trophy dressed in his baseball uniform while Fin dresses in street clothes.
FIN (CONT’D)
(to himself)
Alright, let’s do this.
Fin turns on his speaker and plays “Broken Boy” by Cage the Elephant as he gets ready for the party.
Fin stands in front of the bathroom mirror. He grips the sink, staring himself down, psyching himself up.
He throws on a hoodie, brushes his teeth, fixes his hair. Stops. Looks at himself again. Pulls the hoodie back off, swaps it for a jacket.
CUT TO:
INT. THE KITCHEN
FINS MOM (Early 40’s, Stressed) sets food down for the two of them.
She glances toward the stairs, she can hear his music playing softly, she waits.
No Fin. She exhales, checking the time.
CUT TO:
INT. FINS BEDROOM.
Fin shuffles through his closet.
He pulls out an old Clemson hoodie—stares at it for a long beat.
Tosses it aside and grabs something else.
FINS MOM
(Texts)
Dinner is ready!
Fin, mid-outfit change, ignores it.
He throws on his shoes, grabs his keys, heads for the door.
FIN
Bye mom, love you, I’m going out with Kye.
Fin shuts the door before his mom can answer.
Fin opens the door and sees ZEKE (Ava’s Twin, 18, Mixed), Kyler, and AVA (Zeke’s Twin, 18, Mixed) all dressed in costumes.
KYLER
Oh shit, I completely forgot to mention it’s a costume party.
FIN
Yeah, that might have been a good thing to mention.
ZEKE
You gotta have something you could put on.
FIN
I haven’t worn a costume since I was 12.
AVA
Just use those.
Ava points toward an owl with glasses holding a harry potter book on Fin’s front porch.
FIN
Glasses don’t make a costume Ava.
AVA
Just grab them and that book and be that nerd from Harry Potter.
FIN
You mean Harry Potter?
AVA
Yeah, him.
Zeke and Kyler put their faces in their palms and laugh as Finn grabs the book and glasses off the owl and heads with the group toward Zeke’s car, a 2023 Kia Forte.
FIN
Dibs on the keys.
Zeke groans.
ZEKE
Fine, but only because I’m gonna need a DD.
Fin and the group laugh Riptide by Vance Joy starts to play.
AVA
I Love this song!
Fin puts the car in reverse right when the group starts to sing and the car pauses the music while the car is in reverse (Kia’s have this feature in this vehicle), they sit in awkward silence.
KYLER
Zeke you have to get a different car.
ZEKE
I know.
The song resumes as we see a montage of the car driving through Charleston, South Carolina.