FADE IN:
EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD - ERIE, PA - 1997 - DAY
SUPER: “1997”
The sun is shining and the sky is clear. The street is lined with trees and close-knit houses. Most houses don’t have fences. One such house has a blue door.
INT. CONLON HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY
YOUNG ZAC CONLON (12) and YOUNG ANNA ANGELILI (12) sit on a couch and play N64 Mario Kart. Zac raises up his arm in victory.
YOUNG ZAC
Beat ya’ again!
Anna pouts and throws down her controller.
YOUNG ANNA
Aww man. I suck at this game.
YOUNG ZAC
You have to stay on the track.
Anna throws a throw pillow at him and Zac catches it, laughing.
YOUNG ZAC
Do you want to go get ice cream?
YOUNG ANNA
Sure, Zac.
TEENAGE PATRICK CONLON (15) stomps down the stairs and runs into the living room. He grabs the back of the couch and leans over into the middle schoolers’ faces.
TEENAGE PATRICK
Did someone say ice cream?
Zac shoves him away.
YOUNG ZAC
You’re not coming.
Patrick whines.
TEENAGE PATRICK
But I love ice cream, too, Zac.
YOUNG ZAC
No brothers allowed.
Patrick looks at Anna.
TEENAGE PATRICK
Anna wants me to come.
YOUNG ANNA
You’re a dweeb.
YOUNG ZAC
Leave her alone, Patrick.
Patrick looks between them.
TEENAGE PATRICK
You two like each other!
Heat rushes to Anna’s and Zac’s cheeks. Patrick points at them.
TEENAGE PATRICK
It’s true! You do!
Patrick grabs Zac’s face and squishes it.
TEENAGE PATRICK
(singing loudly and terribly)
I’ll be your dream, I’ll be your wish, I’ll be your fantasy. I’ll be your hope, I’ll be your love, be everything that you need.
YOUNG ANNA
Eww, that song is terrible.
TEENAGE PATRICK
What! It’s the greatest love song ever written.
Patrick plants a big ol’ kiss on Zac’s forehead. Zac bolts off the couch and lunges at Patrick. The wrestle. Anna shakes her head.
YOUNG ANNA
Get him, Zac!
Zac finally punches Patrick in the balls and stands up.
YOUNG ZAC
Come on, Anna, let’s go.
Anna jumps off the couch and joins Zac. Zac opens the front door and they walk out. Patrick gingerly follows them. Zac rolls his eyes.
YOUNG ZAC
Fine.
EXT. ICE CREAM STAND - DAY
The three kids stand in front of the ice cream stand trying to decide which flavors to try. Patrick gets his ice cream first.
YOUNG ZAC
I think I’m just gonna get my usual.
ICE CREAM STAND MAN hands Zac his ice cream and Zac steps to the side. Anna steps up.
YOUNG ANNA
Raspberry cream, please.
ICE CREAM STAND MAN
That’ll be $1.40.
Anna reaches into her pocket and pulls out some change.
YOUNG ANNA
Rats, I’m 10 cents short.
She’s about to walk away when Patrick presses a dime to the counter.
YOUNG ANNA
You don’t have to do that, Patrick. I don’t need ice cream today.
TEENAGE PATRICK
It’s 10 cents, Anna. No big deal.
Anna gets her ice cream and the three walk down the sidewalk.
EXT. TOWN SIDEWALK - MOMENTS LATER
Patrick trips over a crack in the sidewalk.
YOUNG ZAC
You’re such a dweeb.
Patrick steadies himself.
TEENAGE PATRICK
Just wait until puberty hits, dude.
Zac glares at him.
YOUNG ZAC
You know what would be super cool? If there was a bar where you could go as an adult and play video games all day. Like a video game bar!
YOUNG ANNA
That would be really cool.
YOUNG ZAC
Maybe you’d actually get good at playing Mario Kart.
Zac laughs and Anna punches his arm.
YOUNG ANNA
We should totally open a bar like that someday.
INT. ANGELILI HOUSE, LIVING ROOM - DAY
Anna sits by herself and plays Legend of Zelda. A THUMPING comes from behind her.
Anna whips around and sees her dad, MR. ANGELILI (mid 30s) tripping down the stairs and clutching his chest.
MR. ANGELILI
Anna, get your mom. I need help.
Anna drops her controller and goes to Mr. Angelili.
YOUNG ANNA
Dad? Are you okay?
(shouting)
Mom!
MRS. ANGELILI (mid 30s) rushes into the room and goes to her husband.
MRS. ANGELILI
I’m going to call 911.
Anna runs out of the house.
EXT. CONLON HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Anna knocks frantically on the door. MRS. CONLON (late 30s) opens the door. She sees the wild look on Anna’s face.
MRS. CONLON
Anna, what’s wrong?
YOUNG ANNA
Something’s wrong with my dad. There’s an ambulance coming.
Mrs. Conlon looks next door to the Angelili House. She ushers Anna inside.
MRS. CONLON
Stay with the boys. I’m going to help your mom.
Mrs. Conlon hurries past Anna.
INT. CONLON HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Zac appears by the door. Anna comes in.
YOUNG ZAC
What’s going on?
YOUNG ANNA
I’m supposed to stay here. My dad is going the hospital.
Zac touches Anna’s arm.
YOUNG ZAC
Do you wanna like play a game until they’re back?
Anna looks at the floor.
YOUNG ZAC
I’m sure everything will be okay. I’ll even let you win a race or two.
They walk into the living room.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
There are a crowd of mourners in black gathered around a plot. Mrs. Angelili and Anna stand at the front of the crowd, nearest to the plot. Mrs. Angelili dabs at her eyes.
Zac stands beside Anna and takes her hand in his. She looks at their hands wildly.
YOUNG ZAC
I’m here for you.
Anna squeezes his hand back and gives a weak smile.
PREACHER
We are gathered here today to celebrate the life and commemorate the passing of devoted husband and father, Dominic Angelili.
Anna starts to cry and Zac squeezes her hand harder.
After the service, the mourners shuffle around and talk. YOUNG BECCA (12) walks up to Anna and Zac. She gives Anna a giant hug.
YOUNG BECCA
Oh bestie, I’m so sorry.
Becca lets go of Anna.
YOUNG BECCA
We should have a sleepover soon.
She looks at Zac who is still holding Anna’s hand.
YOUNG BECCA
Girls only.
YOUNG ANNA
Yeah, that’d be cool.
Off to the side, Patrick and a GIRL are making googly eyes and kissing faces at each other near a tree. The three middle schoolers watch.
YOUNG ZAC
That’s his new girlfriend.
YOUNG ANNA
What’s her name?
YOUNG ZAC
I don’t remember.
YOUNG BECCA
Wasn’t he dating someone else last week?
YOUNG ZAC
Yeah, seems like he’s got a new girlfriend every week.
Patrick catches them staring and walks over to the trio with his girl in tow. He trips on a tree root a little but rights himself quickly.
TEENAGE PATRICK
Anna, I’m so sorry. If there’s anything we can do, you know we’re just next door. All of us.
YOUNG ANNA
Yeah, Patrick, thanks. I appreciate it.
Patrick squeezes Anna tight. His girlfriend looks annoyed.
GIRL
This isn’t what I thought you meant by date.
Patrick rolls his eyes.
TEENAGE PATRICK
Yeah, come on. Let’s get out of here. Bye Anna.
Patrick and his girlfriend walk away.
INT. CONLON HOUSE, DINING ROOM - EVENING
Mrs. Angelili and Mrs. Conlon sit across from each other. Zac and Anna sit next to each other. Patrick sits across from them. MR. CONLON (late 30s) sits at one end of the table. The other end is empty.
The only sound is the chewing of food. No one knows what to say. Mrs. Angelili holds back tears. Anna looks forlornly to the empty seat.
INT. ANNA AND ZAC’S APARTMENT, BEDROOM - PRESENT DAY - DAY
Anna and Zac, now 23, lay cuddled in bed.
SUPER: “PRESENT DAY - 2009”
Zac has his arms wrapped around Anna’s naked body, but they’re under the covers. He flips her around so they stare into each other’s eyes. This must be love.
ZAC
I’m just saying, Rainbow Road is the worst Mario Kart track.
ANNA
Zac!
She playfully smacks him and they laugh.
ANNA
You can’t just hate on me like that.
ZAC
I could never hate you!
They kiss.
ZAC
I’ll still kick your butt in the game, though.
Anna reaches to smack him again but Zac rolls away. He sits up and pulls on his boxers.
ZAC
Better get moving, slowpoke. Don’t want to be late for Sunday night dinner.
Anna tosses a pillow at him.
INT. CONLON HOUSE, DINING ROOM - DAY
Mr. Conlon (early 50s) and Mrs. Conlon (50), Mrs. Angelili (late 40s), Anna, Zac, and Patrick (now 26) sit around the table and talk.
They pass dishes of food back and forth.
PATRICK
How’s the video game bar coming?
ZAC
Good.
ANNA
We were just scouting some locations this weekend.
MR. CONLON
How are you going to fund it?
ZAC
We’ll get a loan.
MR. CONLON
Don’t you have enough student debt?
ZAC
Yeah, but this is important to us. Plus, Penn State Behrend wasn’t that expensive.
MR. CONLON
Perhaps wait a few years and explore other options.
MRS. CONLON
Get stable. Get married!
Zac chokes on his food. Anna’s eyes go wide.
ANNA
We haven’t really talked about that, Mrs. Conlon.
Zac continues to choke. Anna pounds his back.
MRS. ANGELILI
You’ve been together so long!
ANNA
Mom!
Zac can finally breath again. Anna stops touching him.
ZAC
(squeakily)
Isn’t that a bit much to ask of us?
Mrs. Conlon waves away his concern. Anna looks at him quizzically.
Mrs. Conlon and Mrs. Angelili reach their hands across the table and squeeze each other’s hand.
MRS. CONLON
Remember when we brought them home from the hospital?
ZAC
Oh god, mom, not this again.
MRS. ANGELILI
Yes. We always knew this day would come.
Patrick makes a gagging face and Anna laughs. Mrs. Conlon gently smacks him.
PATRICK
(to Zac and Anna)
Do you guys want to go out after this? I’m meeting some friends.
ANNA
I’m down if Zac is.
Zac moves some food around on his plate with his fork.
ZAC
I kind of just want to go home and watch a movie. I’m tired.
Anna grasps his arm.
ANNA
Okay, let’s do that.
(to Patrick)
Maybe next time.
Patrick SIGHS and takes a bite of food.
INT. ANNA AND ZAC'S APARTMENT, LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
A TV is on in the empty living room. The lights are dim.
Anna runs in and jumps onto the couch with a bowl of popcorn.
ANNA
Zac! Come on! Let’s start the movie!
Zac slowly walks in holding two glasses.
ANNA
If I fall asleep, I’m cuddling you.
She pats the seat next to her. Zac sits down and hands her a glass. Anna kisses him and snuggles into his side.
ANNA
I love doing this with you.
Zac picks up the remote and starts the movie. A romcom.
Later, Zac stands up.
ZAC
Will you excuse me for a minute?
Anna shuffles around to let him up. As soon as he’s out of sight, Anna picks up her cellphone and dials.
ANNA
(whispering)
Becca! Zac is acting funny tonight. I think he’s about to propose.
(beat)
It’s about time! We’ve only been together our entire lives.
(beat)
Like a fairy tale!
(beat)
He’s coming back. Okay. Call you later.
Anna hastily hangs up the phone and shoves it under a couch cushion. Zac sits down next to her.
ANNA
Everything okay?
ZAC
Yeah, yeah. There’s something I want to talk to you about.
ANNA
Yes?
ZAC
We’ve been together a long time.
ANNA
Basically our whole lives.
ZAC
Exactly. Forever. And everyone expects us to be together forever.
Anna takes his hand in hers.
ANNA
Zac, I feel like that, too.
ZAC
It’s so much pressure. I feel overwhelmed.
ANNA
We’ve gotten through a lot together. We can make it through anything.
Zac takes his hand back.
ZAC
That’s just the thing. We’ve been together so long that I don’t know if I could get through anything on my own.
ANNA
What are you saying, Zac?
ZAC
I want to break up.
Anna shoots off the couch.
ANNA
You want to what?
ZAC
I just can’t do this anymore.
She picks up a throw pillow and bashes him over the head with it.
ZAC
I just need some time.
ANNA
Some time?
She thrashes him with the pillow again.
ANNA
You mean, like you’ve taken my whole life? You keep telling me you love me. Was that all a lie?
ZAC
Anna, I do love you...
ANNA
Liar!
Zac opens his mouth to speak. Anna picks up the bowl of popcorn and dumps it over Zac’s head.
Anna marches to the
BEDROOM
Anna throws an open suitcase onto the bed. She shoves clothes and other items in. Zac walks in.
ZAC
Anna, you don’t have to leave.
ANNA
I can’t stay here!
She angrily zips the suitcase and shoves past Zac.
She stomps through the apartment, dragging her suitcase behind her. Zac follows her. She opens the door.
ZAC
Where are you going?
ANNA
Don’t call me.
Anna walks out and slams the door behind her.
INT. BECCA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Anna flops on the couch. Becca, now 23, sits next to her.
BECCA
So, how are you doing?
ANNA
I’m okay.
BECCA
(sarcastically)
You sure look it.
Anna rolls her eyes.
BECCA
It’s Sunday.
ANNA
No way. I can’t see Zac or any of the Conlons right now.
BECCA