The party

INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT -- NIGHT

The atmosphere is lively, everyone elegantly wasted. Music blares from the speakers, echoing off the walls. Josh, completely out of it, has his arm around Kate, who appears bored and wide awake.

Jordan steals glances at her, but when Josh shifts, he shyly looks away. Kate catches his eye and smiles before looking back down.

Jordan rises and moves to the kitchen, turning on the sink and splashing water on his face. He grabs a glass, filling it with tap water and chugging it as if it were his courage. He slams the glass upside down on the wooden cutting board.

KATE
Is this the window to get out to the roof?

Jordan, still staring at the sink, begins to respond slowly.

JORDAN
Yeah, just open that window and climb on out.

He turns to watch as Kate climbs out the window. After a moment, he steps toward the door but stops to watch her smoke a cigarette.

The streetlight bathes her in orange while moonlight washes over her in baby blue. She arches her back, sweeping her hair off her shoulders, which falls gracefully as if defying gravity.

After two puffs, she glances over her shoulder and catches Jordan’s gaze. She smiles, and he freezes in embarrassment, unable to move.

She maintains eye contact as she takes another puff, and he finally turns away, retreating back into the kitchen.

He opens the kitchen window and climbs out, walking onto the overhang above his front door. He pulls a pack of cigarettes from his left pocket, placing one in his mouth.

He replaces the pack, then searches for a lighter, recalling it’s on the coffee table. He turns to Kate.

JORDAN
(CONT'D)
You know, usually you can't come out here without a tribute to the homeowner.

KATE
Really? I have nothing to offer... I suppose I should go back inside.

JORDAN
Well, I count a light for this cigarette as good enough on Thursdays.

KATE
I think I can handle that...

She pulls a lighter from her bra strap, clicks it, and lights his cigarette.

KATE
(CONT'D)
There we go...

Jordan takes a puff and smiles.

JORDAN
That will do. Thank you very much. So... you looked pretty bored in there.

KATE
I’ve done this shit for way too long.

JORDAN
Then why? Why do you do it anymore?

KATE
Why do you?

JORDAN
New conversation rule: no answering questions with questions. You first, then I’ll share.

KATE
Hmm... okay. Well, I’ve been getting fucked up since I was about 14. I guess I don’t know what else there is to do at this point.

JORDAN
14 years old, huh? Jesus, how the hell is that? Doing what? Smoking weed?

KATE
Heroin.

JORDAN
Smoking heroin?

KATE
No, idiot. Injecting.

JORDAN
God damn! Why the hell were you "injecting" heroin at 14? Did you have a death wish or something?

KATE
The whole story or the abridged version?

JORDAN
The War and Peace version...

KATE
(smiles)
Well, my first love was a boy named John. He was 17, and I was 14, and I was completely in love with him. My family didn’t understand and didn’t want me with him. His parents got divorced when he was 12, and he chose to live with his father, who was never home. He skipped school, partying cross-country for drugs.

When he was 16, he moved to New York with friends, and when he returned, he was HIV positive. He wasn’t the healthiest person from all the partying, and within a year and a half, he had full-blown AIDS. He got it from sharing needles with friends, and knowing he had a quick and painful death ahead, he came back home to seek help from his parents.

When he returned, both parents had remarried and didn’t want him passing AIDS to his younger siblings, especially since his mother just had a baby. So he was cast out and moved back in with friends, thinking one of his parents would change their minds. He never stopped doing heroin.

His best friend died of Toxoplasmosis, and I happened to be the best friend's little sister's best friend. Long story short, I met him at the funeral. I was young and in love, and I couldn’t bear the thought of dying alone, so I ran away from home and moved in with him. I never had sex with him, never kissed him, and never shared needles. I just held him as he cried himself to sleep every night.

One morning, I woke up freezing, and he never woke up. He overdosed, and I attended his funeral four days later. It’s amazing how someone can be there one day, and the next, you wake up, and they’re gone from this world. You can’t write them, can’t call them... they’re just gone, like they never existed.

My family took me home from the funeral, and we packed up our things and moved from New Hampshire to Florida.

JORDAN
I’m sorry... wow, are you okay?

KATE
As in, "Do I have AIDS?" No, I don’t... I get checked pretty often, and I’ve never tested positive for HIV or AIDS. Not even once, not even a scare.

JORDAN
I’m sorry...

KATE
(cuts him off)
It’s okay, really... it is. I knew he was dying. I just felt no one should die alone. That's all... I’m fine.

FADE TO BLACK AND PULL BACK FROM THE ROOF.

---

INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT (BEDROOM) -- AFTERNOON

Jordan is on the phone with Josh.

JORDAN
So, are you going to be ready tonight?

JOSH
Hell yeah, man, of course... fuckin’ Star Wars. How could I be a boy of the '80s otherwise? Call me later tonight?

JORDAN
Sure, I’ll call tonight.


INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT -- LATER

Jordan dials the phone, calling Josh but reaches the answering machine.

JORDAN
Hey, this is Jordan... give me a call about the movie. Peace.

---

INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT -- MOMENTS LATER

Jordan calls Josh again, only to reach the answering machine once more. Frustrated, he stops leaving messages and glances at the clock, which reads 6:30—the movie starts in 30 minutes.

---

INT. JOSH'S FRIEND'S HOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

Josh lies half-conscious on the floor, while his friend sings the chorus of "Old McDonald Had a Farm" repeatedly.

JOSH'S FRIEND
(singing)
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...

JOSH
Sing it again, from the top!

JOSH'S FRIEND
(enthusiastically)
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...
Old McDonald had a farm, Eeeyiee-Io...

---

INT. JORDAN'S STUDIO APARTMENT -- CONTINUOUS

Jordan picks up the phone again and calls Kate.

KATE
Hola.

JORDAN
Hey, is Josh there?

KATE
Negative, Ghost Rider... and besides, you don't always have to ask that. You can just talk to me.

JORDAN
Well, me and Josh were supposed to go see Star Wars in like... (glances at clock) twenty minutes. I can’t seem to find him, and I’m going to see this movie no matter what. So... you wanna represent him?

KATE
Oh, when you say it like that... Of course I'll go. Hold on one sec... (covers the mouthpiece) Mom! Can I go see Star Wars with Jordan?

KATE'S MOM
Sure, when does the movie start?

KATE
In like, 20 minutes...

KATE'S MOM
Jeez... Sure, just give me a second to get ready.

KATE
Okay... (takes her hand off the phone) Which movie theater is it?

JORDAN
The one by me.

KATE
Roger, I’ll be there in 20.

JORDAN
Just come to my house... we’ll walk. I want to talk to you.

KATE
Oh... okay... little Mr. Serious...

Jordan waits, then hangs up after Kate does.

---

EXT. JORDAN'S HOUSE -- 20 MINUTES LATER

Jordan waits outside as Kate's mom pulls up in a minivan. Kate kisses her mom on the right cheek and mouths "love you" before stepping out.

JORDAN
Hey! You came...

KATE
I sure did... Surprise!! When I said 20 minutes, I was just trying to throw you off! Looks like it worked...

JORDAN
Okay, smarty... just excited to see you.

KATE
Blah, blah... let’s go... your car? (points to Jordan's car)

JORDAN
That thing is barely running... let’s walk.

KATE
Aw, look at it! (pretends to cough) Cough... cough.

They walk toward the theater, and Jordan remains quiet, looking nervous. Kate playfully bumps her shoulder against him.

KATE
(CONT'D)
You're not gonna be silent the whole time I'm here, are you?

JORDAN
Oh, me? (looking more nervous) I was planning to save all the conversation for the movie.

Kate smiles and nudges him, adopting a Euro-trash accent.

KATE
Yay, ...that should be grand for a packed theater.

They stroll through the theater's parking lot and enter the lobby. Kate looks at Jordan intently. When he glances over, she smiles.

KATE
(CONT'D)
Turn that frown upside down, loser. You're starting to make me feel unwanted.

Jordan blushes slightly and panics.

JORDAN
Sorry... I don’t mean to be a bad host! Sorry... (looks down)

KATE
(smiling and biting Jordan’s shoulder)
You're not being fun enough... and I plan on filling that arm with bites when you get boring again.