Picking Up the Pieces:

EXT. CEMETERY - DAY

Greg and his date (Kayla) sit in the car on the road in the
cemetery. The camera pans out as Greg stares blankly toward
his fathers service which is taking place.

GREG (O.S.)
I can't do it... I just can not
gather up the brass to get out of
this car and face family that I
haven't seen in years.

7.


KAYLA (O.S.)
Well, just wait til the end of
the service and then get out once
people start leaving. I think
they know you are here. They
probably see us already.

Camera is now back on Greg and Kayla. They remain in the
car but the camera is on them from the exterior.

GREG
I don't think they would say two
words to me if I walked down
there. I think they would turn
their noses up to me because they
think I abandoned them. No, they
abandoned me. And for what? For
what? A stupid name? I they
thought that because I changed my
last name that I was somehow no
longer a part of the family? I
wasn't adopted into a new family.
I was still a member of the
Stephenson family. My birth
certificate still says Greg
Stephenson! Names are just words!
I'm still blood! This family and
I have the same blood! I would
never abandon someone of the same
bloodline over a stupid name change.



FADE OUT.

Arriving Back Home:

INT. BAR - DAY

TATE
So, welcome home.

GREG
Thanks.

SUPERIMPOSE --

MADISON, WISCONSIN

TATE
So, how are the "twins" treating
you? I hear that place is, like,
fucking crazy.

GREG
Yea

TATE
What are you doing later, man?

GREG
No real plans. I'm just in town
for the weekend...

TATE
You should come out with the old
crew. We probably will just end
up back here tonight when the DJ
is in the building.

GREG
Yeah, maybe I will... I have some
people to see and some stuff to
take care of...

4.


TATE
What is the deal man... You seem
pretty distant and not very
interested in hanging out with
the best friend you haven't seen
in ages? You know you can tell me
anything... We have been friends
for years. What is the deal?

GREG
Tate, I really don't have a firm
grip on what the issue is. All I
know is that I "have issues." I
ran away from my problems by
moving up north thinking that it
would solve everything. That has
not been the case. I still think
of everything that happened down
here and the shit continues to
roll down hill. I stopped
talking to my biological father's
side of my family and now he is
gone. I haven't seen anyone on
that side in years... Except for
my cousin, Katie and the last
time I saw her... She drop-kicked
me in the face.

TATE
Why the hell did she drop kick
you in the face? That is fucking
hilar-

GREG
Shut the hell up! It wasn't funny...

TATE
You sure? Cuz I think it is
pretty humorous. I can't help
but put us off track for a second
and ask for a recap of the "drop-
kicking."

GREG
Fine... So... I'm standing here
next to Jason one night. DJ Jeff
is playing requests... I see her
walk in the door and I am
thinking "Shit... I hope she
doesn't see me."

INT. BAR - NIGHT

Music is playing. People are dancing.

5.


IN THIS FLASHBACK, WE SEE KATIE WALK INTO THE DOOR. SHE SEES
GREG. GREG PROVIDES A NARRATION VOICE OVER OF THE SCENE

GREG (VO)
So anyway, she sees me... walks
over and starts talking to me and
then...

FLASHBACK SCENE IS NOW 15 MINUTES AFTER KATIES ARRIVAL. SHE
IS DANCING TO A SONG. GREG IS LOOKING IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION TALKING TO HIS FRIEND JASON. ALL OF A SUDDEN AS
THE CAMERA IS FACING GREG, A FOOT COMES INTO THE FRAME AND
MAKES CONTACT WITH GREG'S FACE. GREG IS PROVIDING NARRATION
VOICE OVER WHILE THIS SCENE HAPPENS

GREG (VO)
Then I am just standing at the
table, drinking a Leinies and
talking to Jason when all of a
sudden a foot makes contact with
my face... My head snaps over to
the side and i stumble into a
pillar while Jason chuckles...

INT. BAR -DAY

Back to present day. Greg and Tate continue talking.

TATE
That is flippin' hilarious! Oh
my god! Histerical!

GREG
Whatever man... I gotta finish
this beer and go pick up Kayla so
that I have a companion at the
service. If I even go...

TATE
What? You better go! He was your
father, Greg. There is no way
around that. He may not have
been there for you much. But he
did love you and if he were alive
and you were gone he would go to
your service!

GREG
I don't think he would. I don't
think he would know. If he cared
to know anything about me he
could have always asked for my
contact info.
(MORE)

6.


GREG (CONT'D)
But he didn't. I know I should
be sad about this and deep down I
am and it is probably a big issue
in my list of issues but I am
trying to deal with it with a bit
of humor. It is how I deal with
bad situations... I try to laugh.

TATE
I know you do man. I know. But
just get Kayla, go to the service,
and then call me when you get
done so we can have some fun...

GREG
You know something Tate?

TATE
What?

GREG
If my life were a movie It would
be hard to tell if it should be
classified as a comedy or a
drama... It would probably be a
dramady... Like the O.C.

TATE
Well, you may be right... Now go
take care of the drama!







DISSOLVE TO:

The Morning:

FADE IN:

UNDER THE STUDIO LOGO:

KNOCKING at a door and distant birds CHIRPING

NOW UNDER BLACK, a CARD --

MONDAY

The rapping, at first tentative and polite, grows insistent.

Then we hear someone get out of bed.

GREG (O.S.)
...damn it...

A DOOR is opened, and the darkness gives way to BRIGHT LIGHT,
the way one experiences the first glimpse of light,after say
a hangover.

ADAM is there

GREG (O.S.)
What the hell, man!

ADAM
Hey man! Get your damn clothes on!

MILES (O.S.)
Why?

ADAM
Cuz you're stark-assed naked! You
are gonna be late getting back to
Madison.

GREG (O.S.)

Yeah, shut up Adam.

He closes the door with a SLAM.

EXT. GREG'S APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY

SUPERIMPOSE --

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA

Wearing only boxers and flip flops, GREG NAGAF

comes out of his apartment and heads toward the parking lot.
He passes

2.


some kids with backpacks on their way to the bus.

He climbs into his 7 year old PONTIAC SUNFIRE, parked

diagonal in his spot. The car starts.

As he pulls away, he drives through a puddle... splashing ADAM.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Greg rounds the corner and finds a new parking spot along
the curb.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

He cuts the engine, leans back in his seat, closes his eyes,
and opens the car door.

INT. GREG'S APARTMENT - DAY

The door opens. Miles walks into the bathroom, looking

just past camera.

GREG
Dammit!

Greg hurriedly throws his clothes on.

INT. CARIBOU COFFEE

Greg is the only one in the store

BARISTA
Hey there! What can I get you?.

GREG
Vanilla Cooler. No Whipped Cream.

BARISTA
Anything else for you?
(ringing it up)


GREG
No, I'm late. And give me a Star-
Trib.

EXT. 35E ON RAMP -DAY

Greg's Sunfire speeds up the ramp and merges.

3.


INT./EXT. SUNFIRE - DAY

THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD --

A SIGN reads:

MADISON 230 MILES

PAN TO GREG as he signals to change lanes.

DISSOLVE TO: