Chapter Text
SATURDAY, 9TH NOVEMBER, 14:27
EXT. PARK
“London Boy” by Taylor Swift plays as we pan over the park, seeing the trees, grass, families walking around, all bundled up in coats, enjoying their day.
We then focus on ALISTAIR’s hands making a daisy chain in slow motion, turning it into a crown and putting it on his head, smiling at JAKE, who’s sitting on the grass next to him.
We return to normal speed as we see that ESTHER, SANDY, BRIANNA, RORI, LIZ, JAMES, NICK, THEO, SOPHIE, TARA, JAKE and ALISTAIR are all sitting together, underneath a tree, already mid-conversation as the song fades out, JAKE staring at ALISTAIR, trying not to smile and failing.
ESTHER
Okay, how are we gonna get the word out?
JAKE
Uh, about what?
JAMES
The talent show, Jacob.
LIZ
Can’t be a show with an audience.
NICK looks over at RORI and smiles.
NICK
I’ll sell a ticket with every gram I sell?
BRIANNA
[sarcastic] Yeah, that’ll really help, thanks so much Nickolai.
NICK
Welcome!
SANDY
We could post about it?
ESTHER
Yeah, of course.
There’s an awkward pause, everyone trying to think. JAKE has an idea and looks around - no one else is going to speak. So he does.
JAKE
Why not just, you know, tell people?
LIZ
If you just tell people, they won’t want to come. You have to make them come to you.
BRIANNA
Exactly!
JAKE
Does that even make sense?
There’s a pause, the GIRL and BOY SQUADS all exchanging glances. JAKE looks down, avoiding any stares.
THEO
He's not wrong.
SANDY
Well, it’s got us this far.
BRIANNA
And we don’t need your criticism.
JAKE
But words literally work. If you tell a dog to sit, it sits.
LIZ
Human people aren’t dogs.
THEO
Unless they’re furries.
LIZ
I-- No thank you, Theo. I don’t like that.
JAKE
I’m just saying, it could work.
THEO
Yeah. I once told Nick to lick those things people hold onto on the bus and he did.
ALISTAIR
Oh, that is disgusting!
THEO
I know, right?
ALISTAIR stands up, perfectly calm, all eyes on him as he leans against the tree.
ALISTAIR
Just put posters up around the school. You know, like the ones you made for the party? It’s not illegal. Besides, people will see it and tell their friends. They’ll do anything for attention, and in our fame-centric society--
BRIANNA
Shut up, commie.
ALISTAIR
Shut up, bootlicker. Anyway, they all want attention, blah blah blah, posters, everything, shazam.
He does jazz hands, as there’s a short silence.
JAMES
I mean… He’s right.
ALISTAIR nods, like “obviously”, making them all laugh a little.
ALISTAIR
You gotta know what the people want and give it to them.
NICK
That’s what he said.
RORI
No. No, it is not.
NICK winks at her as she groans, laughing. JAKE watches, opening his mouth like he’s about to say something, but then he doesn’t. There’s an awkward pause. After a short while, NICK smiles.
NICK
So… Mayonnaise, huh?
ESTHER
What?
NICK
It’s nature’s cum.
JAKE bursts into laughter as LIZ screams into her hands, RORI staring openmouthed into the distance as ESTHER wheeze-laughs, leaning onto SANDY, who looks like she's disassociating.
ESTHER
That’s the worst thing…
RORI
Why would you say that? No one asked.
NICK
I did. Emotionally.
BRIANNA
No one cares about you, Nick.
ALISTAIR leans against the tree and starts taking off his shoes and socks.
SANDY
Al, what are you doing?
ALISTAIR
Taking off my shoes, duh.
SANDY
Yeah, but… Why?
RORI
It's November.
ALISTAIR
Let me live, mothers.
JAMES
Yeah! Let him have his foot fetish in peace.
LIZ groans, pushes him off of her.
LIZ
That’s it, I’m breaking up with you.
JAMES
Over his foot fetish?
ALISTAIR
I don’t have a foot fetish.
LIZ
Either way!
ALISTAIR shrugs and starts to walk off.
ESTHER
Where you going?
ALISTAIR
Adventuring, don’t mind me.
ESTHER
Okay, stay safe.
ALISTAIR winks and does finger guns at her and walks away, barefoot, JAKE staring after him as the GIRL SQUAD begin to talk in the background.
JAMES [O.S.]
Dude? Jake?
JAKE turns around to look at JAMES, NICK and THEO watching him, all a little nervous.
JAKE
Yeah?
JAMES
Um, you know that video going around?
JAKE
What video?
JAMES, THEO and NICK all exchange a look and JAKE lets out a breath, beginning to remember last night.
JAKE
Guys. What video?
THEO
Um, are-- Are you sure you want to know? It’s kind of…
NICK
Fucked up would be the words I would use.
JAKE
Just send it to me.
JAKE turns on his phone and goes into Instagram, immediately getting a message of a video from NICK. He clicks on it and a blurry, badly filmed version of the party from the night before begins to play.
VIDEO JAKE
God, Bryan, I fucking hate you!
VIDEO JAKE smiles, laughing with relief, as JAKE watching the video starts to breathe heavier, his grip tightening.
VIDEO JAKE
You're a dick, and I don't want you around me!
VIDEO BRYAN
[quiet] Jesus Christ, Jake, what’s gotten into you?
VIDEO JAKE
Oh, you really want to know?
VIDEO BRYAN nods, and JAKE shakes his head.
VIDEO JAKE
Dick! Because I’m--
JAKE turns his phone off, staring down at it for a few moments. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know what to say. He didn't think any of this through.
JAKE
You, um, you guys know that was a joke, right? I-- I was just… I was just saying it to wind him up, you…
They obviously don’t believe him. JAKE sighs, running a hand through his hair and looking over at ALISTAIR, who’s still walking away.
JAKE
Who posted this?
JAMES
Rory.
THEO
Bastard.
JAKE immediately messages RORY “Why the fuck did you do that?”. RORY reads the message but doesn’t respond. JAKE sighs again, more aggressive, and puts his phone in his pocket.
NICK
You okay?
JAKE
Why do you care?
NICK shrugs, looking away.
JAKE
It was just a joke, okay? I-- I don't know what you're all getting so worked up over.
JAKE's the only one getting worked up, and NICK sighs.
NICK
Look, if you wanna be pissed, do it on your own.
JAMES
But you can talk to us. If you need to.
THEO nods and JAKE stands up, smiling awkwardly at all of them, and walks over to ALISTAIR, who’s just standing still in the middle of the grass.
JAKE
You’ll catch your death. And you just got better.
ALISTAIR laughs, looking back over to the tree as JAKE watches him.
ALISTAIR
It’s freeing. Being at one with nature or whatever.
JAKE
Yeah.
There’s an awkward pause. ALISTAIR reaches out his hand to touch JAKE’s, making it look like an accident. JAKE jerks his hand away and ALISTAIR looks up at him, confused.
JAKE
People know. There-- There's a video, and I'm just-- I'm not ready. I didn't think about any of this, it just slipped out and I just... I can't. I can't be public with it all right now.
ALISTAIR doesn't physically react.
ALISTAIR
Okay.
JAKE looks at ALISTAIR, confused, surprised that he isn't mad.
JAKE
Okay? You don't mind?
ALISTAIR
Why would I? You need time. We got time. So much time.
JAKE shakes his head, touching his phone in his pocket.
JAKE
How are you always so happy?
ALISTAIR shrugs, smiling.
ALISTAIR
With you, I just am.
JAKE looks back at the group. They’re all talking together, none of them looking at them. JAKE takes a small step closer to ALISTAIR, their shoulders brushing, and they look out at the trees.