Drama / Comedy excerpt from feature screenplay.

EXT. LA - CITY PARK - DAY

Dan sits alone on a park bench, with a visible black eye. Suitcase beside him. He pulls out his phone.

TEXT MESSAGE - “LUIS”: “I’m so sorry bro” “You there?”

RECENT CALLS - “LUIS” “JESSIE”.

He taps “JESSIE”. It rings as he puts it to his ear.

INT. JESSIE’S LOFT - DAY

Jessie's loft is a shabby bachelor pad, cluttered with food containers and beer bottles from days, maybe even weeks, past. Two bodies lie beneath the comforter on a mattress on the floor, devoid of sheets. Suddenly, a ringtone blares “Tubthumping” by Chumbawamba.

A woman’s hand emerges from beneath the sheets, fumbling to locate the phone. She grabs it and tosses it carelessly to the other side of the bed, where it hits the floor.

JESSIE PARKER, 27, naked, with a raven tattoo on his chest and a crusty man-bun, sits up and notices the phone.

JESSIE

Phone. Where’s my phone?

He stares at it for a moment, then shimmies his legs off the side of the mattress. Using his foot, he drags the phone closer until he can pick it up.

The screen displays “DANNY” with a picture of them together as teenagers. He immediately sobers up.

JESSIE

Danny?

INTERCUT WITH:

EXT. L.A. - CITY PARK

DAN

Hey, Jessie, what’s up man?

Jessie paces anxiously in his cluttered loft apartment. We see his full body, evidence of years spent indulging in beer, nachos, and sporadic yoga.

JESSIE

So you must have loved the surprise, huh?

DAN

(confused)

What? How did you-

JESSIE

The voicemail. It was epic, man. God, I didn’t think you would call back though.

DAN

Right, yeah, thanks man.. It was awesome. Listen, do you think I could crash at your place for a while?

JESSIE

(surprised)

Crash? With me? In Portland?

DAN

If it’s not too much trouble. It wouldn’t be for-

JESSIE

Of course, you can stay here. When can I expect you?

Jessie grabs a pencil and an envelope marked “PAST DUE”.

DAN

Can you pick me up at the airport? Flight gets in at two-thirty.

JESSIE

(jots down messily)

two..thirty..what day?

DAN

Today.

JESSIE

Oh, wow. Sweet. I’ll see you in eight hours, my good sir.

DAN

Five hours. Not, eight.

JESSIE

Right, did I say six? I’m just joking. I’ll see you soon.

DAN

Sounds good.

JESSIE

(affectionate)

Love you.

DAN

Love you too.

The woman in the bed, ERICA, a vibrant redhead in her 30s, starts getting dressed.

ERICA

Who’s that?

JESSIE

My big brother. Do you have an air mattress I can borrow?

EXT. L.A. - CITY PARK - CONTINUOUS

Dan sits on the bench, scrolling through his phone. He taps ‘PLAY’ on a voicemail.

From the phone: Sounds of a cheery bar crowd sloppily unite as one collective singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Dan.

The crowd now sounds further away. Jessie’s voice cuts through.

JESSIE (VOICEMAIL)

That was all of Parker’s Keep, just for you, Danny. Happy birthday, big brother. I love you and I hope you have a great year.

Dan sighs, as he sinks into the bench.

Two women walk by with a seven-year-old child, ZACHARY. He breaks off from his parents and walks toward Dan, carrying a McDonald’s bag.

WOMAN #1

Zachary, what are you doing?

The child hands Dan his McDonald’s bag. The other woman quickly pulls the child away from Dan.

WOMAN #2

I am so sorry, sir.

DAN

(smiling)

It’s no problem, really.

ZACHARY

(innocently)

But he looked like shit, Mom.

EXT. L.A. SIDEWALK - DAY - MOMENTS LATER

Dan pulls his suitcase behind him, a mix of emotions on his face. He takes a big bite, devouring half of his burger in one go.