BLACK SCREEN

SUPERIMPOSE: "The mystery of human existence lies not in staying alive, but in finding something to live for." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

[The quote is typed in white letters against a black background.]

FADE IN:

INT. COUNSELING CENTER WAITING ROOM - DAY

ANDREW GLAZER, 15, quietly sits next to his mother, SUZANNE GLAZER, 49, in the open, breezy waiting room of the Counseling Center. Several other chairs are occupied by the center's patients: either on their phones, flipping through magazines or sitting quietly.

ANDREW stares straight ahead with a bored, expressionless look on his face.

CUT TO:

INT. DR. TURNER'S OFFICE - DAY

ANDREW sits on a spacious sofa across from DR. TURNER in a small, family-oriented therapist's office. Pictures of DR. TUNER'S family and posters with encouraging phrases and platitudes mark the walls.

A semi-uncomfortable silence lingers in the air as DR. TURNER inquisitively watches ANDREW, and ANDREW stares at the ground, disenchanted.

After a moment, DR. TURNER speaks......

DR. TURNER

I notice you're being very distant today, Andrew. Unresponsive, maybe?

ANDREW looks up from the floor.

ANDREW

Maybe.

(beat)

I think I'm just tired.

DR. TURNER

You still not sleeping well?

ANDREW

No, not really.

(beat)

Better. I mean, I usually stay up pretty late.

DR. TURNER

How late?

ANDREW

Uh, I don't know. 1:30, 2:00.

DR. TURNER

Are you just not tired or--

ANDREW

I'm not really tired when I go to bed, no.

DR. TURNER

Have you been using the Bowflex?

ANDREW

Um, a little I guess. Not really that much, though.

DR. TURNER

Well, like I said, exercising on that is gonna help you get to sleep, help make you tired. If you sit around and do nothing all day, of course you're gonna be tired.

ANDREW

Well, isn't that what I always do? Nothing.

CUT TO:

EXT. COUNSELING CENTER PARKING LOT - DAY

Outside, the Counseling Center has a modest amount of cars in the parking lot. By the building's exterior, it can be deduced this is a wealthy part of town.

The front door to the Counseling Center swings open, Andrew and his mother SUZANNE come walking out of the building. They make their way across the sidewalk, and begin walking straight to the other side of the parking lot.

Before either of them can make it all the way across the parking lot, a large black truck comes shooting through. Andrew (who is right in the path of the speeding truck) quickly bolts out of the way.

As the truck passes by, the ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER (a dark haired, middle-aged man) gives a middle finger salute to Andrew and his mother, then continues to speed through and exit the parking lot.

SUZANNE

Jerk!

After a moment to catch their breath, the two continue to walk towards Suzanne's car.

CUT TO:

INT. SUZANNE'S CAR - DAY

Suzanne drives her car down the Southwest Freeway, Andrew stares out the car window looking disenchanted.

After a moment......

SUZANNE

We're gonna have to stop at the gas station.

CUT TO:

INT. VALERO RESTROOM - DAY

Andrew pees in the stop n' go's bathroom urinal. When he's done, he flushes, then washes and dries off his hands.

CUT TO:

EXT. VALERO GAS STATION/STOP N' GO - DAY

The front door of the stop n' go thrusts forward as Andrew exits the building and enters the parking lot. His eyes scan for his mother's car as he walks. After a quick glance, he notices a familiar vehicle: the black truck from the Counseling Center. The ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER is filling up his vehicle with gas from the pump.

Andrew's mother is right across from the driver, also filling up her car with gas.

Andrew stops for a second, assess the situation. The driver's back is turned to him, giving Andrew a minute to think. After his momentary pause, he approaches the driver and stops only a few feet away from him. The ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER turns towards Andrew.

ANDREW

Remember me?

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

What?!

ANDREW (CONT’D)

Remember me? From the parking lot at the counseling center.

A grin begins to appear on the truck driver's face.

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Oh, yeah. You're that little shithead that walked out in front of me.

(beat)

The fuck do you want?

Andrew now realizes he's in over his head and begins to get nervous.

ANDREW

(timidly)

I don't know.

The driver thinks for a second......

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Wait, did you follow me here?! You little shit!

ANDREW

What? No, I didn't follow you hear! I just saw your truck.

Suzanne, who has overheard the commotion, comes and stands next to Andrew. She has a look of both confusion and anxiety on her face.

SUZANNE

What's the problem over here?

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Your dickhead son came over here and started runnin' his goddamn mouth!

Suzanne stares at the driver for a brief moment. Then she glances over at his truck.

SUZANNE

Wait a second, are you the guy from the Counseling Center? The guy who almost ran us over?

The driver grunts.

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Piss off.

SUZANNE

Come on, lets go, Andrew.

ANDREW

Fine.

The driver chuckles, goes back to his business. Andrew looks back at him.

ANDREW (CONT’D)

(under his breath)

Dick.

Unfortunately for Andrew, the driver was able to make out that remark. The angry truck driver's expression turns from irritated to PISSED. The driver begins making his way towards Andrew and his mother.

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

What was that?!

Andrew looks back at him, now he's really nervous. Andrew and Suzanne turn around to face the driver (who is now almost directly behind them).

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER (CONT’D)

I said, what the fuck was that?!

SUZANNE

Could you just please leave us alone?

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Really? I should leave you alone? Why the hell should I leave you alone when your son is over here muttering under his breath?

ANDREW

I'm sorry, it was my bad. Now could you please leave us alone?

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

I should beat the shit out of you!

Now Andrew is visibly angry.

ANDREW

Go to hell, dickhead!

BIG MISTAKE!!!

ANGRY TRUCK DRIVER

Fuck you, asshole!

The driver rears his arm back and punches Andrew square in the face. He goes down......

ANDREW

SHIT!!

CUT TO:

INT. GLAZER'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Andrew sits down on the leather sofa in the living room of his house. His eye is now black and swollen. Suzanne walks in, and hands him an icepack. He places it on his swollen eye.

SUZANNE

Just keep the icepack on it. The doctor said it will be fine.

ANDREW

And what did the police say?

SUZANNE

Still nothing. The security camera's were down, and no one got his license plate.

ANDREW

This is ridiculous! He hit me in the freaking face!

SUZANNE

I know. I agree with you! I'm gonna be pretty pissed if they don't catch this guy. The cop was a jerk. He acted like we were inconveniencing him.

(beat)

I'm gonna leave for the nursing home in a little bit. Do you feel like coming?

ANDREW

I guess so. My face hurts.

(beat)

I still can't believe that douche-bag! I should've beaten the crap out of him!

SUZANNE

I really am sorry about all this. I'm sure it will get sorted out. Anyway, just let me know whether or not you're coming.

Suzanne walks off, leaving the living room. Andrew lets out a loud groan and presses the icepack down harder on his face.

CUT TO BLACK :

TITLE: 'I'M NOT HERE'

[Once again, the text is in white letters against the backdrop of the black screen.]

CUT TO:

INT. SUNRISE NURSING HOME LOBBY - NIGHT

Andrew (still holding his ice pack to his head) and Suzanne sit in the lobby of the Sunrise Nursing Home. Several of the home's residents are seated throughout the room as well. A secretary sits behind a large wooden desk answering phone calls, flipping through files.

ANDREW

Where's Grandpa?

SUZANNE

In his room. He said he had something personal to do before he came out and saw us.

ANDREW

Hmmmm......

SUZANNE

(beat)

Your Dad should be here soon.

ANDREW

Okay.

A few moments after that conversation an elderly man, who's using a cane to walk, enters the nursing home's waiting room. It is Andrew's grandfather, SONNY LAMBERT (89-years-old). SONNY hobbles towards Andrew and Suzanne with a determined look on his face.

SONNY

Hey, Andrew!

Andrew stands up and hugs his grandfather.

ANDREW

How are you?

SONNY

Me? I'm fine. Sorry I took so long.

SUZANNE

What were you doing? Its been half an hour.

SONNY

(chuckling)

Come on, you know what I was doing.

SUZANNE

No, I don't. That's why I'm asking you.

SONNY

Well, Andrew over here knows what I was doing. Right, buddy?

ANDREW

(confused)

No......

Sonny lets out a laugh.

SONNY

You know, the five finger shuffle. Greasin' the gash.

ANDREW

What gash?

SUZANNE

Dad!

SONNY

I was......

(whispers)

masturbating.

A look of disgust overcomes Andrew's face, and a look of shame and embarrassment overcomes Suzanne's. Sonny is still grinning.

SONNY (CONT’D)

(motioning towards his room)

Let's go back to my room and relax, huh?

SUZANNE

I'm really not sure I wanna go back there.

SONNY

Don't worry, I cleaned up.

Suzanne gets up out of her seat, shaking her head in disgust. The 3 begin to make their way to Sonny's room.

SUZANNE

Nasty, Dad!

SONNY

Just don't shine a black light in there. It'll be like a solar flare.

CUT TO: