2. FADE IN:
INT. HOSPITAL - ROOM - NIGHT
BEEPS disperse from a heart monitor. Cords and IV tubes hook
into TERESA JULIANA, 34, a sickly skeleton with skin.
Teresa breathes slowly and holds the hand of YOUNG JAMES
PEREGRINE JULIANA, 10, four feet of innocence with a scar on
his forehead. His eyes water, and Teresa wheezes.
A PRETTY NURSE flips through a magazine in the corner.
TERESA
Stephen...
YOUNG JAMES
Dad’s not here.
Teresa slowly nods, and her bony hand points at a small oval-
shaped gift next to a crucifix on the bedside table.
Young James slides wrapping paper off of a decorative rock.
Its inscription reads: “I Love You.”
Teresa’s hand slides against Young James’ cheek.
TERESA
Remember it and remember this.
Teresa’s thumb rubs Young James’ scar.
TERESA (CONT’D)
The Lord is with you. Always.
Young James cries, and the Nurse closes the magazine.
TERESA (CONT’D)
You’re special. Meant for great
things. Change the world for me.
Teresa kisses Young James’ hand, but her eyes widen and grip
tightens. Young James grimaces and screams.
The heart monitor beeps rapidly. The Pretty Nurse pulls Young
James away. Teresa’s body seizes and rocks the hospital bed.
With Young James in her arm, the Pretty Nurse slams a red
emergency button. Young James cries and clutches the rock.
3. INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Young James leans on a wall amidst busy Nurses and Doctors.
He rocks back and forth and presses the rock to his forehead.
A man’s CRIES arise, and Young James glances down the hall.
STEPHEN JULIANA, 39, slick hair and in a black suit, cries
and grabs the shirt of a Doctor, who pats his shoulder;
Stephen pushes the Doctor away and punches a wall.
Nurses grab Stephen and appear to talk to him. Stephen
frowns, trudges over to Young James, and kneels.
Stephen caresses Young James’ shoulders; Young James rubs the
rock and cries.
STEPHEN
Hey. Me and you. We’re stronger
than this. We’re going to be okay.
Stephen rubs James’ scar.
STEPHEN (CONT’D)
You’ll never ever get another one
of these. I promise.
They hug and cry in each other’s arms.
EXT. BRIGHTSTONE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY - DAY
SUPER: “8 YEARS LATER”
The sun gleams over rows of cookie-cutter, three-story houses
with manicured lawns, pools, and fenced-in backyards.
INT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - MAIN HALLWAY - DAY
Students stream past lockers and classroom doors.
JAMES PEREGRINE JULIANA, 18, portly with slick hair and
ironed dress clothes, emerges from the crowd with a backpack.
ADAM JOHN, 18, a twig in a Superman T-shirt, follows.
JAMES
I don’t care, Adam.
ADAM
She’s right there, James!
James stops at a locker and turns a combination dial. He
scratches his forehead and the scar.
2.
4. JAMES
She’s always there.
ADAM
And waiting to melt your butter and
slide it into her.
James opens the locker and gazes down the hall at MARY
VALENTINE, 17, the luscious brunette subject of James’
dreams, who chats with JENNIFER, 17, and AMBER, 18.
James shakes his head and pulls on his backpack’s zipper; it
sticks. Adam pats James’ head.
ADAM (CONT’D)
You will not be a virgin by the end
of the year. I refuse my best
friend, my buddy, my pal to have--
JAMES
What about you, dude?
ADAM
Me? These ladies wouldn’t touch me
with a ten foot poll. Mary peeks at
you all the time, though.
JAMES
Fine. If you shut up, I’ll say hi.
ADAM
Don’t mess it up. You always say
you’ll do something to shut me up,
then you mess it up on purpose.
The backpack pops open. Books, papers, and the decorative
rock SMACK the floor; a PIMPLED STUDENT laughs.
James flicks the Pimpled Student’s cheek; the Pimpled Student
skirts away. Adam opens a bottle of pills and takes one.
ADAM (CONT’D)
Come on, Come on, Come on.
JAMES
How many is that today?
Adam shushes James and wraps an arm around his shoulder. They
move down the hall.
ADAM
That’s not important.
3.
5. JAMES
Didn’t your doctor say--
ADAM
I’m suicidal with an obscure and
active imagination that needs...
distraction during the day.
JAMES
That doesn’t mean you take them
whenever you please.
ADAM
That’s why you’re around. To keep
an eye on me... There she is. Now,
remember how Clark met Lois Lane.
Adam and James halt in front of Mary.
JAMES
I’m just saying hi to my neighbor.
ADAM
A very sexy neighbor that’s pretty
easy to get with. Free puss--
James smacks Adam’s chest, and Adam laughs.
JENNIFER
You two need something?
Adam and James stare wide-eyed at Mary, Jennifer, and Amber.
JAMES
Um... Hey, neighbor.
The girls laugh, but Mary hides her blush.
AMBER
Is that it?
JAMES
I’m not talking to you. You wish
you lived in our neighborhood.
Amber pushes her tongue into her cheek. Adam mouths the word
“Damn.” Mary bites her bottom lip and chortles.
ANDERSON, 16, an effeminate boy with a gimpy leg, limps down
the hall. James peeks at him and smiles. Adam matches James’
look and whispers.
ADAM
J.J., don’t. Not again.
4.
6. JENNIFER
Our boyfriends will be by soon, so
I suggest you skedaddle.
James shrugs, backs up, and sticks out his leg; Anderson
trips and crashes. Adam raises his arms and drops them.
Everyone halts; some laugh at Anderson, who grasps his leg.
Jennifer and Amber roll their eyes and look into pocket
mirrors. Mary frowns and pulls out her own mirror.
MARY
I still live next to an asshole.
Mary’s mirror slips out of her hand, but James catches it
with lightning-quick speed and gives it back.
James winks at Mary and walks away.
AMBER
What a weirdo. Just like his dad.
The girls gawk at Adam, who shines a big grin.
JENNIFER
Yes?
Adam shakes off the smile.
ADAM
Look, I know. He’s James. He’s
rude, fat or whatever, but... he
has a good heart. Trust me.
MARY
When I see that is when I’ll care.
Adam’s eyes widen, and he points at Mary as he walks
backwards down the hall.
ADAM
That a promise?
Adam runs off; Jennifer and Amber snap their mirrors shut.
AMBER
What kind of meds is he on again?
JENNIFER
Could ask his parents, but oh...
wait. They don’t care.
Jennifer and Amber laugh, but Mary only smirks.
5.
7. INT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - EAST HALLWAY - DAY
Adam rounds a corner and catches up to James.
JAMES
Mirror was a nice touch, wasn’t it?
ADAM
Nice touches won’t get you great
touches, my friend.
A FRECKLED STUDENT, in a shirt that bares the face of Mrs.
Thompson, thrusts a pink flyer into James’ hand.
ADAM (CONT’D)
J.J. She digs you, man. How about
being a little more... good?
James reads the flyer: “Donate to Mrs. Thompson’s Cancer
Relief Fund Today!” He snickers and crumples it.
INT. WILSON MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER - LOBBY - DAY
Patrons, in designer clothes, flow past an angel statue in
the center of polished wooden walls and granite floors.
DALE SHARPER, 65, in a black suit and ear piece, watches
a desk that sits in-between two metal doors, which have key-
card readers at their sides.
The face of the desk reads: “Wilson Memorial Front Desk.”
A BUFF GUARD, in a black suit and ear piece, slides a key-
card through a reader. METAL CLANKS; a metal door opens.
The Buff Guard lets two Patrons pass him. He speaks into his
fist and exits through the door.
CAROLE DEMARCO, 32, a makeup-less tomboy, stares at an
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATRON from behind the desk. A nameplate
states: “Carole DeMarco - Front Desk Clerk.”
STEPHEN JULIANA, 47, drop-dead handsome in an ironed black
suit, sits next to Carole. A nameplate states: “Stephen
Juliana - Head of Security.”
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATRON
What’s the reason?
CAROLE
You’re not a resident of
Brightstone, and the doctor has
denied your husband care.
6.
8. AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATRON
Is he not sick enough?
CAROLE
Ma’am, I cannot answe--
AFRICAN-AMERICAN PATRON
Hospitals should allow anyone to--
STEPHEN
Ma’am, my sincere apologies, but
this isn’t happening. Clarksdale
Medical is right down the road, and
it’s more... affordable.
The Patron shifts to Stephen and spits in his face. Carole’s
eyes widen, and Stephen clenches his teeth and stands.
Stephen’s head obscurely twitches twice. Carole furrows her
brow, and the Patron’s jaw slightly drops.
Stephen’s face turns red, and sweat beads his forehead. He
slams his hands on the desk and scowls at the Patron.
Stephen’s fingers claw towards a red button and presses it.
A BUZZER sounds. TWO BALD GUARDS escort The Patron away.
CAROLE
You okay, Stephen?
Stephen grinds his teeth.
STEPHEN
Perfect.
DALE (O.S.)
Juliana.
Stephen shakes his head, wipes sweat from his brow, and
smiles; Dale approaches with a grin.
STEPHEN
Mr. Sharper.
DALE
The board will be looking for a new
Chief of Security after I retire.
Stephen nods. Dale leans towards him. A phone RINGS.
DALE (CONT’D)
So, keep up the good work.
7.
9. CAROLE
Mr. Sharper, did you see how---
DALE
DeMarco, please answer that.
Carole grabs the phone and glances at Stephen, who unbuttons
his collar.
EXT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - BASKETBALL COURT #1 - DAY
An iPod stereo BLARES MUSIC. Teenagers disperse into teams.
EXT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - BASKETBALL COURT #2 - DAY
James, in a white T-shirt and basketball shorts, shoots a
basketball by himself and makes every shot he takes.
Adam saunters in with a backwards baseball hat, which has an
emblem of a red cape flowing in the wind.
Adam types on an iPhone and clenches a paperback book under
his armpit. A lit cigarette rests on his lip.
James throws the ball at Adam, who drops everything and
catches it; the cigarette falls.
JAMES
Put it out.
Adam kicks the ball to James and grabs the cigarette.
ADAM
Hey, the doc said I needed to try
new things. Change things up.
JAMES
I’m sure he meant something to keep
you from trying to kill yourself.
ADAM
Again.
James throws the ball; it hits Adam’s head.
ADAM (CONT’D)
Jesus, J.J. It was a joke.
JAMES
Finding you that night wasn’t.
Adam rubs his wrists, where scars glide across his veins.
8.
10. ADAM
What are best friends for?
Adam throws the cigarette and passes the ball to James.
ADAM (CONT’D)
It’s like you were meant to find me
and save me, ya’ know?
James dribbles the ball, and Adam lazily defends.
ADAM (CONT’D)
Like it was your purpose. That’s
what the doc has been telling me.
“Everyone has a purpose.”
Adam steps away and grabs the paperback book. James rolls his
eyes and shoots. The ball swishes.
JAMES
We going to play or what?
Adam tosses the paperback book to James, who ganders at the
title: “P.I.L. Find Your Purpose In Life.”
ADAM
I kind of believe it.
James throws the book off the court.
ADAM (CONT’D)
Think about it though. What’s your
purpose, J.J.? You’re not some
ordinary Joe. No, you’re different.
JAMES
Wish your parents knew what this
guy was feeding your imagination.
ADAM
You don’t feel it? Like you have a
glimmer of... something special?
James dribbles around Adam, who stands still. James performs
a fade-away shot, and the ball swishes.
ADAM (CONT’D)
I mean, you never get sick. You can
catch things in mid-air. Your
athletic ability is incredible
considering your weight.
JAMES
Luck. Skill. Not much more to it.
9.
11. James spins the ball on his finger.
ADAM
You survived that accident all
those years--
James pegs the ball into Adam’s stomach. Adam groans.
JAMES
Don’t.
ADAM
It’s a little strange isn’t it?
Truck hits boy. Driver dies. Boy
comes out with... just a scar?
Adam pats James’ scar; James smacks Adam’s hand away.
JAMES
If you don’t shut up...
James winds up to shoot.
ADAM
You’re meant for great things, J.J.
James shoots; the ball bangs the rim. Adam’s eyes widen.
ADAM (CONT’D)
You believe it too. I knew it. It’s
there. You feel it. The glimmer.
JAMES
Just cut it out.
ADAM
This is like when Superman started
getting ideas about his... nature.
JAMES
I’m not a comic book character.
James closes his eyes and shoots the ball from half-court.
Adam watches the ball swish through the net.
ADAM
Really? Still won’t admit it? Come
on. Even your mom didn’t believe
you should’ve survived that accide--
James punches Adam. Adam crashes to the pavement and holds
his nose. Blood streams through his fingers.
10.
12. JAMES
Why go on about this?
ADAM
Mary doesn’t want another asshole.
You can change.
JAMES
People don’t change.
ADAM
I changed.
JAMES
No you didn’t. Those pills are what
keep you from slicing those open.
Adam peeks at his wrists, and James swallows hard.
JAMES (CONT’D)
I didn’t mean that.
ADAM
No, you’re right. Guess I need to
find a better reason to be happy.
James waits; he extends his hand.
JAMES
I’ll admit. I’m okay at some stuff.
ADAM
Whatever you say, asshole.
Adam smiles and grips James’ hand with a bloody hand.
EXT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - BASKETBALL COURT #1 - DAY
The MUSIC from the iPod Stereo turns to STATIC and HIGH
FREQUENCY BEEPS. The Teenagers cover their ears.
EXT. R.E. TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL - BASKETBALL COURT #2 - DAY
James pulls Adam up and goggles at Adam’s healthy nose.
Adam gapes at James’ bruised nose and squeezes his own nose.
Blood seeps over James’ lips, and James wipes it.
James screams; Adam laughs.
11.
