2. EXT. PARTY
Sarah--eager, earnest, big smile--walks by Delilah, barely
keeping up. Sarah's outfit is stylish while Delilah is
casual. Sarah stumbles a bit, Delilah keeps walking, but then
stops.
DELILAH
You okay?
SARAH
You're sure I'm not overdressed?
DELILAH
No! You look great. It's so dark in
there anyway.
SARAH
Okay...
DELILAH
And you don't have to drink! I know
I felt like I had to for awhile.
SARAH
I'm okay to drink.
DELILAH
Then let's get fucked up!
They come upon the house--people outside are smoking and
chatting, and indoors colorful lights stream around a dark
room pulsing with dancing bodies. The bass booms. Delilah
leads as they weave through the crowd. People call to Delilah
as she enters. Sarah and Delilah enter the dance floor--two
small fish in a big dancing sea.
DELILAH (CONT’D)
I'm gonna get us some drinks, stay
right here.
SARAH
Okay!
Delilah leaves. Sarah looks around, unsure. Then loosens,
closes her eyes, starts dancing. MARISSA--freshman, fickle,
mellow--sees Sarah and goes up to her.
MARISSA
Sarah?
Sarah doesn't hear. Marissa taps her shoulder. Sarah opens
her eyes, surprised, but calms at the sight of Marissa.
3. 2.
SARAH
Oh, hi!
MARISSA
Sarah, hi! It's Sarah, right?
SARAH
Yeah! Marissa?
MARISSA
Yeah! I haven't seen you since
orientation.
Delilah reenters with drinks, giving one to Sarah.
DELILAH
I hope you like shitty beer! This
your friend?
SARAH
(not wanting to insult
Marissa)
Yeah.
DELILAH
Oh! I'll be over there then with
some friends. Come over if you need
me.
SARAH
Actually I--
Delilah's gone.
MARISSA
Anyway I just wanted to say hi!
Enjoy the party!
SARAH
Oh okay, bye--
Marissa's gone. Sarah's alone. She takes a sip of her drink
and holds the cup nervously. Seeking out Delilah in the
crowd--Delilah is with people Sarah doesn't recognize. Sarah
considers joining but sees Marissa's back instead. She
approaches Marissa, tapping her shoulder.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Hey, do you mind if I--
The girl turns around and is NOT Marissa. Sarah is
embarrassed.
4. 3.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were
someone else.
Sarah looks around. She is alone in a room full of people.
SUB: Early Hours, washes away to Changing Faces.
CUT TO:
INT. SARAH/D'S ROOM
Sarah has just finished changing into pajamas. She leaves for
the bathroom. Makeup removal process
She reenters her room and flops onto her bed. Her eyes
naturally end up on Delilah's side of the room. Delilah's
books. Her shoes. Photos of her and her friends. Countless
photos, really.
Sarah reaches under her own bed and retrieves a box of
Franzia. She takes out her phone and dials. She pours the
drink. She waits. Voicemail.
SARAH
Hey Leah...sorry I'm calling so
late. Just wanted to hear how
you're doing. It's only the third
week and I'm already a mess...well.
I don't know. Maybe not.
Her side of the room is filthy.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Ahhhhh this is so fucking weird. I
don't wanna talk to you through a
phone. I miss the lake. Skipping
rocks and talking for hours. I
don't really have anyone here like
that.
PARTYGOER (O.S.)
I'M READY TO FUCKING PARTY!!!!
She drinks.
SARAH
Maybe I'll go to Minnesota. Come
see you. Can't believe we both
chose two very cold campuses. Oh! I
think you still have my book. Mail
it sometime please? I kinda miss
it. And I miss you! Okay, bye.
5. 4.
She hangs up. She looks around her side of the room, sighs,
downs her wine, and grabs a shirt off the ground.
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM
Sarah closes the door and swipes her card to pay. No dice.
Swipes. No dice. She cleans the card on her shirt, swipes.
Nothing.
SARAH
Oh come on!
THEA (O.S.)
Um.
Sarah turns to see Thea holding a basket of laundry.
THEA (CONT’D)
You okay Sarah?
SARAH
Yeah. Just.
Sarah sighs. Beat.
THEA
I can come back.
SARAH
Sorry, I just can't figure out how
to pay for my laundry.
THEA
Oh I've been there. Want some help?
SARAH
I would love that.
(realizing)
I'm sorry, have we met?
THEA
The other night? At Charlie's? I'm
Thea.
SARAH
RIGHT. Thea!! Of course. I'm sorry,
I got way too high so that night's
a blur.
THEA
Don't stress, you're fine. Here, do
you mind if I?
6. 5.
Sarah hands Thea her card. Thea swipes. No dice. She opens
the washing machine and a few clothes tumble out.
THEA (CONT’D)
Aha. You overstuffed the machine.
SARAH
You can do that?
THEA
You most certainly can. Just take a
few things out.
Thea starts taking some clothes out, then stops.
THEA (CONT’D)
I'm sorry, I'm totally just
touching all your clothes.
SARAH
No, please keep touching them! I
mean--I'm really glad
you're...thank you.
(beat)
Sorry, I had some wine. A lot of
wine.
THEA
That's okay.
Sarah hurriedly takes a handful of clothes out.
SARAH
There, will that work?
Thea closes the door and swipes Sarah's card. It works!
THEA
My first week here I turned the
whole house into Bubble City when I
put too much soap in. You're doing
a lot better by far.
SARAH
Thanks. I guess it just doesn't
feel like it.
THEA
Are you coming to Movie Night
later?
SARAH
What?
7. 6.
THEA
Oz throws these Movie Nights when
no one else is using Tishman. You
should come. I'll swing by and get
you.
SARAH
Oh. Sure! Thanks for inviting me.
It's nice to have friendly faces
around.
Thea smiles and leaves. Sarah smiles, then a touch of doubt
enters her face.
INT. LAUNDRY ROOM - LATER
Sarah loading her clothes into the dryer. Thea enters.
THEA (O.S.)
I see we're not in Bubble City.
See? You're doing great!
SARAH
Thanks, it does feel weirdly good
to-
Sarah stands up to face Thea and stops. This is NONTHEA, a
Thea-kinda-look-alike.
NONTHEA
Everything okay?
SARAH
Sorry, do I know you?
Delilah enters.
DELILAH
Hey! You two! Are you going to
movie night?
SARAH
Yeah Thea told me about it.
DELILAH
(to Nonthea)
You are amazing! Let's go!
Sarah looks between the two of them.
CUT TO:
8. 7.
INT. TISHMAN
Sarah, bewildered, sitting next to Nonthea, who is engrossed
in the movie, eating popcorn. The movie illuminates their
faces.
NONTHEA
Popcorn?
SARAH
No I'm okay. I'm just gonna...
Sarah slowly climbs over the railing to sit in the row below,
settling next to Delilah, who's next to Oz.
DELILAH
Hey!
OZ
Hey Sarah.
SARAH
Hi Oz.
(whispered to Delilah)
That's not Thea, right?
DELILAH
...What?
SARAH
Behind us. That's not Thea. Thea
doesn't look like that.
DELILAH
...I mean she cut her hair, if
that's--
SARAH
That's not what I'm saying!
DELILAH
I'm gonna get a snack. Come with
me, okay?
INT. VENDING MACHINE
Delilah pondering the snacks.
DELILAH
No way. They made the Snickers
$1.50. That's way too much.
9. 8.
SARAH
Please tell me I'm not going crazy.
DELILAH
Listen, first few weeks here, you
meet a lot of people. It's easy to
mix faces up.
Delilah feeds the machine.
SARAH
...Yeah?
DELILAH
Yeah. You're not crazy. Cut
yourself some slack, okay?
Delilah retrieves a Snickers from the slot.
DELILAH (CONT’D)
See you in there.
Delilah leaves. Sarah's nervous.
SARAH
I'm not crazy, right? I just need
more sleep. Makes sense.
She looks at the machine, sees the Snickers. She puts in
money, punches the code for Snickers. It vends. Reaching her
hand into the slot, she retrieves a pack of gum. She stares
at it. Frustrated, she bangs on the machine.
OZ (O.S.)
Uh.
Sarah turns to see Oz has joined her, wallet in hand.
OZ (CONT’D)
You okay?
SARAH
No, I...it's all yours.
Sarah takes a step back and Oz, unsure of Sarah's state,
steps to where she was. He ponders the snacks.
OZ
How's your first term so far?
SARAH
Good. Fine. Great.
10. 9.
OZ
You sure?
SARAH
Yeah, just...you know. I'm still
adjusting. Nothing's settled
yet...I'm just a freshman.
Sarah takes a deep breath, wipes her face with her hands.
Pause. Clunk, clunk. She opens her eyes and Oz is eating a
Snickers, offering Sarah her own as well. She looks
surprised.
OZ
$1.50 is way too much for a
Snickers.
Sarah takes the Snickers. It's a big gesture for her. They
smile at each other.
Nonthea enters. Sarah looks at her carefully. Sarah gets a
text from Charlie. "Can you come to my room? I think I'm
freaking out." She starts typing back.
OZ (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Sarah? Everything okay?
SARAH
Yeah, I think Charlie--
She looks up to see Nonthea and Nonoz, stammering the rest of
the sentence until she just stops talking. Sarah stares.
NONTHEA
Sarah?
SARAH
Thea.
NONTHEA
Yes?
To Nonoz.
SARAH
Oz.
NONOZ
...Yeah?
SARAH
Wow, okay, um. Is this a hazing
thing? Like, "let's play a prank on
the freshman"?
11. 10.
NONTHEA
I don't know what you're talking
about.
SARAH
Okay, yeah, I gotta go. I need air,
and Charlie...
Sarah leaves abruptly. Nonthea and Nonoz look at each other,
worried for Sarah.
INT. TISHMAN
Sarah walks toward the exit. Only Delilah and Jamie are
sitting.
DELILAH
Where you going, Sarah?
SARAH
I just gotta go.
Delilah sits up.
DELILAH
Nooooo roomie don't go, we were
just about to order some FatCat.
JAMIE
FatCat!!!!
SARAH
That's okay, I don't eat meat.
DELILAH
Let me buy you a milkshake then.
FatCat's got the best shakes.
JAMIE
FatCat!!!
SARAH
I don't know...
DELILAH
It'll be fun. Right Jamie?
JAMIE (O.S.)
They really are the best shakes,
Sarah.
Sarah looks up and sees Nonjamie.
12. 11.
SARAH
I have to go.
Sarah leaves briskly. She's gone.
NONJAMIE
Is she dairy free?
INT. CHARLIE'S ROOM
Charlie is sketching, a harmonica perched in her mouth. She
starts singing in a faux Southern drawl.
CHARLIE
I had me a gal
She blows into harmonica.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
She left me last week.
She blows.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
She called me her pal
She blows.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
I NEVER FELT SO
Hurried knocking at the door. Charlie yelps.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Come in.
Sarah enters, a quiet storm of anxiety.
SARAH
Hey. You said you're freaking out?
CHARLIE
What?
SARAH
Your text. You said you're freaking
out. Did you take something? Are
you stressed? What, what do you
need?
CHARLIE
Did I text you?
13. 12.
Distressed, Sarah pulls up the text and shows it to her.
SARAH
Yes. See?
CHARLIE
Huh...weird. Nah I'm fine.
Almost overtaken by stress, Sarah crumples into a nearby
chair.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Are you okay?
SARAH
I'm fine!...I'm fine. So please
everyone stop asking. I'm just...
CHARLIE
Hey. Hey, look at me.
Sarah looks at her. Charlie starts emphatically breathing.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Breathe with me.
Sarah mimics Charlie's breathing for a few moments. Then
Sarah calms. They finish.
CHARLIE (CONT’D)
Better?
SARAH
Yeah, thanks. That was good.
CHARLIE
Best advice I could give you for
your freshman year: meditate.
SARAH
Meditate. Got it...Hey is the
library still open?
CHARLIE
I don't know, why?
SARAH
There's this book I like to read
when I get really anxious, but I
left my copy back home, and--
Sarah gets a text from Delilah. It reads:
Hey, Oz said you were feeling down.
(MORE)
14. 13.
SARAH (CONT’D)
U okay? I can come to you if you
need me. In fact, where are you?
Suddenly the text rearranges into a new set of words.
Hey, Oz said you were being weird
so I felt obligated to text you. I
don't really care about your
problems, but I'll pretend to care
and actually talk about you behind
your back to everyone else.
CHARLIE (O.S.)
Sarah?
Sarah looks up and sees Noncharlie. She immediately stands
up, disheartened by the latest transformation.
SARAH
Okay, seriously?
NONCHARLIE
Sarah, if you just sit down--
SARAH
Stay there.
Sarah walks to the door, keeping her eyes on Noncharlie.
NONCHARLIE
Sarah, please, can we--
Sarah leaves, shuts the door.
EXT. LIBRARY
Sarah pulls on the door. Locked. She is miserable.
EXT. END OF THE WORLD
As SARAH walks across Commons Lawn, PEOPLE who pass by her
casually change with a blink. As she peers into houses,
PEOPLE there change as well. She shakes it off and trudges on
to End of the World, where she sits on a bench and looks at
the view, sighing. SARAH turns to see DELILAH, who joins her
at her seat.
DELILAH
Hey. Charlie said you were freaking
out. Mind if I sit?
15. 14.
SARAH
How'd you know I was here?
DELILAH
You said it's your favorite spot on
campus.
SARAH
I’m--I’m sorry, do you think I
could just be alone, Delilah?
DELILAH
I don’t think you should be
alone right now.
SARAH
Could you please stop babying me?
DELILAH
I’m not trying to, it’s just, I was
in your shoes a few years ago and--
SARAH
We’re not alike, Delilah. You’ve
got all these friends and you’ve
got it figured out and I’m freaking
out over nothing. So please. Leave
me alone.
DELILAH
I’m just trying to help. I’m not
trying to control you, I--
SARAH
Then leave. You’re not what I need
right now.
DELILAH
Sarah--
SARAH
Stop! I'm not one of your projects.
DELILAH
What?
SARAH
You work people. I've seen you do
it. You smile at me the same way
you smile at Oz or Thea, and you
just met me. How am I supposed to
believe that?
(MORE)
16. 15.
SARAH (CONT’D)
I need a roommate who doesn't bring
me to parties because she pities
me. Or acts like I'm her friend
when really you just wanna feel
good about yourself for taking care
of the poor freshman.
But it's weird Delilah! It's weird
that you're living with a freshman!
Why not live with one of your
countless friends?
DELILAH
(sharp)
You think I'm weird? You're pushing
me away when I'm trying to be your
friend. That's worse than weird,
that's dumb. Yeah I'm living with a
freshman, so fucking what? You
could've moved out any time. And
you're not some freshman puppy that
we pity. We invited you to Movie
Night because we like you. I bring
you to parties and shit because
you're my friend, Sarah.
SARAH
I don’t even know who you are,
Delilah.
SARAH looks up and sees Nondelilah.
NONDELILAH
Fine.
Nondelilah goes. Sarah is alone.
CUT TO:
EXT. COMMONS LAWN
SARAH walks back across Commons Lawn. As PEOPLE pass by her
and change, they stare at her. As she peers into houses,
PEOPLE change and stare back at her. She is unsettled.
CUT TO:
INT. TISHMAN
NONTHEA and NONOZ in Tishman watching the movie. NONDELILAH
enters, fuming.
17. 16.
NONOZ
Hey, did you find Sarah? Charlie
won't stop asking about her.
NONTHEA
Yeah is she okay?
NONDELILAH
She doesn't want my help.
She sits next to Nonoz, still angry.
NONOZ
You just gave up?
NONDELILAH
She wouldn't listen, Oz.
NONOZ
Sure, just...I don't know, doesn't
seem like you to give up.
Beat. Nonjamie enters, holding a fast food bag.
NONJAMIE
Fat-motherfuckin-cat!!!!
INT. BATHROOM
SARAH on the floor, crying, quietly freaking out. A toilet
flushes a GIRL walks out of a stall. She grabs GIRL.
SARAH
Who are you?
(urgent)
What’s your name!
(pause)
What’s your name? Do I know you?
Are we friends?
GIRL starts to leave.
SARAH (CONT’D)
Do you wanna be?
GIRL is gone. SARAH is still for a moment. She looks in the
mirror. She stares at herself. She pokes at her face multiple
times, grabs at it, waits for her face to change. It doesn’t.
She starts laughing. Then it morphs into the kind of sad
laughing where you can’t tell if she’s about to cry or keep
laughing.
CUT TO:
18. 17.
INT. PB HALLWAY - EVENING
SARAH is crying. She hesitantly enters her room. DELILAH’s on
her bed, flipping through a book. There’s a silence. DELILAH
gestures for SARAH to sit on her bed. SARAH does so. DELILAH
offers her a tissue box. SARAH takes one. She wipes her eyes.
She blows her nose. DELILAH comforts her. SARAH notices the
book.
SARAH
Where did you get that?
DELILAH
Charlie told me you were looking
for your favorite book.
SARAH
You remembered my favorite book?
DELILAH
Of course. It's one of my favorites
too, actually. This is my copy.
DELILAH (CONT’D)
I really like this part.
DELILAH hands it to SARAH. SARAH reads with a knowing, sad
smile.
SARAH
Yeah, I really like it too. I feel
like it’s something I’ve always
felt but never really said, and it
feels good to feel like someone
relates. And.
DELILAH
Yeah.
SARAH
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I just
haven’t been sleeping lately and
I’ve been freaking out about
everyone and I feel like I’m going
crazy and--
DELILAH
It’s okay, Sarah.
SARAH
I feel like I keep messing up.
19. 18.
DELILAH
(hands her milkshake)
You’re doing okay.
SARAH reads the words one more time. She looks up DELILAH.She
starts welling up. Beat. SARAH sips on the milkshake.
END
POST-CREDIT: SHE GOES IN FOR A HUG. THEY SHARE A VERY TENDER
hug. MILKSHAKE SPILLS ALL OVER THE BED.
