BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Rick looks at the packet before he turns his attention toward the computer, which 
is TURNED OFF.  He has a contemplative look on his face as he looks at the computer 
for a few more seconds.  Rick then puts the packet BACK DOWN onto the table.

						RICK
			I need more inspiration.

CUT TO:

EXT. LONG BEACH STATE CAMPUS - AFTERNOON

SUBTITLE: “LONG BEACH STATE.”

SUBTITLE #2: “JANUARY 29, FIRST DAY OF CLASS.”

A glimpse of the blue-colored PYRAMID on the northern part of the LONG BEACH STATE 
campus.

CUT TO:

INT. PETERSON HALL BUILDING - ROOM 127 - AFTERNOON

Inside Room 127, there are only long rectangular tables to conduct LAB EXPERIMENTS on.  
Rick, who is SITTING AT THE FAR END of the table CLOSEST to the door, takes out 
his three-ring binder and other supplies from his backpack.  He pulls out a 
SMALL PAPER RECEIPT from the small pocket on his backpack, and frowns.  
He mutters to himself...

						RICK
			Five hundred dollars on textbooks...

Soriano SHAKES HIS HEAD as he puts the RECEIPT in his pants’ pocket and 
organizes all the material that he laid out on the table.  Afterwards, he just 
kicks back in his seat-CHEWING SOME GUM-and watching as MORE STUDENTS walk 
into the room.

THREE NEW CLASSMATES walk in after Rick begins observing new arrivals.  He 
looks around the classroom again, and then turns his head back toward the 
door to see a very attractive VIETNAMESE GIRL enter the room.  CURIOUS, Rick 
continues to stare at her.  The girl-who has long brown hair, a great figure 
and a BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION-turns to look back at Rick.  Making eye contact, 
she then SMILES FOR ABOUT A SECOND before looking away again.  

The Vietnamese girl finds a seat at the end of the table that is DIRECTLY 
OPPOSITE FROM where Rick is sitting.  SHE IS OBLIVIOUS TO RICK HAVING A 
SLIGHT SMILE on his face after she turned to look at him.

EXT. PETERSON HALL BUILDING - AFTERNOON

SUBTITLE: “3:00 P.M.”

STUDENTS continue to PACE down the walkway next to the building.

INT. PETERSON HALL BUILDING - ROOM 127 - AFTERNOON

The lab room is now FILLED WITH STUDENTS as the TEACHER continues to 
talk to them about the REQUIREMENTS for the semester.

						TEACHER
			...and so you’re going to have to purchase 
			a mineral kit by next week.  We will be 
			having our first lab on Monday, so make 
			sure you’re prepared.  Any questions?

A STUDENT raises her hand.

						STUDENT
			(she’s also chewing gum)
			How much does the kit cost?

						TEACHER
			$32 at the campus bookstore.  Anymore 
			questions?

NOBODY ELSE raises a hand.  USING A BLACK MARKER, Rick is DRAWING on a sheet of 
paper in his binder.

						TEACHER (VO)
			Okay.  Before we leave...

A closer look reveals that it is a JAPANIME character.  The character looks like 
one that would be featured in the cartoon DRAGONBALLZ.

						TEACHER
			...I want each of you to tell 
			the rest of the class something 
			about yourselves, so we can get 
			to know you better.

STUDENT #2 raises a hand.

						STUDENT #2
			Can we just tell you our name 
			and what major we’re in?

						TEACHER
			(nods)
			That’ll be fine.  Also tell us what year you 
			are.
			(looks toward Rick’s direction)
			We’ll start with you.

Rick is STILL drawing in his binder, OBLIVIOUS to what his teacher has just said.  
After a few seconds, he looks up to see why it is now QUIET.  He sees that his 
classmates and teacher are looking at him.  Rick then POINTS TO HIMSELF.

						RICK
			Me?

						TEACHER
			Yes, you.

						RICK
			Oh.

He grins as the other students laugh in response.  A pause afterwards.

						RICK
			Well, my name is Rick Soriano... 
			this is the second semester of my third year 
			in college, and my current major is film.

						TEACHER
			(having an interested look on her face)
			Oh, interesting.  So you want to be 
			a director, huh?

						RICK
			(shakes his head)
			Um...no.  I just want to work in 
			production or something.  Maybe write movie 
			scripts.  Or, um, draw storyboards.

Soriano shrugs as he DISPLAYS THE DRAWING he made in his binder.  

						RICK
			See?

The teacher nods in response while his classmates show that they are impressed.  
The Vietnamese girl is among those who TAKE INTEREST in Rick’s HANDIWORK.  

						TEACHER
			Wow, fascinating.

Rick nods his head as he looks away.  UNWITTINGLY SETTING HIS EYES on the 
opposite end of the table, he sees that the Vietnamese girl SMILED AT HIM 
for about a second again.  The teacher then GESTURES to the girl sitting next 
to Rick.

						TEACHER
			And what’s your name?

This GIRL is a Latina who is 22-years old.

						GIRL
			My name is Nikki Cruz, this is my fourth year 
			here	in Long Beach, and my major is business.

						TEACHER
			That’s nice.  So you want to 
			manage your own business, someday?

						NIKKI
			(smiles)
			Yes.

She looks at Rick.  She FEIGNS AN ANGRY LOOK on her face.

						NIKKI
			(jokingly in a low voice)
			Make me look bad...

Soriano points his finger at himself in a ‘WHO, ME?’ gesture.
The teacher then looks at the Vietnamese girl, who sits next to Nikki Cruz.

						TEACHER
			And what about you?

Rick turns his head to look at the Vietnamese girl.  She briefly stares at him in 
return before turning away to speak.  She stands up before she does so.

						VIETNAMESE GIRL
			(smiles)
			Um, my name is Denise Tran.  This 
			is my fourth year in college, 
			and...my major here is Liberal Studies.

						TEACHER
			(nods her head)
			So do you have to take different 
			classes for that major?

Rick listens INTENTLY.

						DENISE
			Yes, I have to take a couple 
			of subjects for it. 

						TEACHER
			Like what?

						DENISE
			(has a contemplative look on her face)
			World History, Math, Linguistics... 
			(smiles)
			You name it.

						TEACHER
			Humanities?

Denise nods after contemplating for a second.

						DENISE
			Yes.

						TEACHER
			(nods in return)
			Sounds pretty hard.

						DENISE
			(smiles)
			It is.

A pause.  The teacher now looks at a STUDENT who sits directly across from Denise 
at the table.

						TEACHER
			And what are you studying?...

This time it is Denise who UNWITTINGLY looks at the other side of the table.  
She sees Rick, who briefly gives her a THUMBS-UP SIGN.  Denise again responds 
with a little smile as Rick looks away again.

CUT TO:

EXT. UCLA CAMPUS - AFTERNOON

A glimpse of the BUILDINGS making up the UCLA campus.

CUT TO:

EXT. UCLA CAMPUS - FOOD COURT - AFTERNOON

Johan and ONE OF HIS FRIENDS are studying in the food court.  They are quizzing 
each other on material in their textbooks when Stephen and Rebecca, who is 
now 20-YEARS OLD, approach their table.

						JOHAN
			What’s up, man?  How’d you do on that test?

Stephen pulls out two chairs-one for him and the other for Rebecca-from a table 
NEXT to the one Johan and his friends are using.  Stephen shakes his head in DISGUST.

						STEPHEN
			DON’T even ask...  

						REBECCA
			It was hard as hell.

						JOHAN
			Bad, huh?

						STEPHEN
			Let’s just say...I hate neuroscience.  I don’t 				
			even know WHY I picked that for my major.
			SHOULD’VE chose aeronautics, dagnabit!!

						DAVIN
			Didn’t your parents tell you to pick that?

DAVIN is Johan’s friend.  At 21-years old, he is an AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

						STEPHEN
			Yea.  Of all the things I rebelled against, 
			one of them was against something my folks 
			were right about all along.  PISSES ME off...

						JOHAN
			So what are you guys doing later on?

Stephen shrugs as he looks at Rebecca.

						STEPHEN
			I dunno... Get wasted with 
			our church buddies?

Everyone laughs in response.

						DAVIN
			A religious alcoholic...how interesting.

						REBECCA
			He’s crazy, isn’t he?

						STEPHEN
			You guys can join in if you want.

						JOHAN
			No thanks... Got other things to do.

						DAVIN
			(fakes a cough)
			UH-HUM, like smoke herb.

						JOHAN
			(smiles)
			No seriously, I have a biology test tomorrow.

						DAVIN
			(to Rebecca)
			Yea, he’s gonna see how his body 
			responds biologically to more weed.

Everybody laughs in response.  Johan smiles while shaking his head.

						JOHAN
			You’re fucked up, Davin.

						STEPHEN
			Anyways, I have to meet up with my church 
			buddies in half an hour.  See ya guys later.

						DAVIN
			Later, man.  Bye Rebecca.

Stephen and Rebecca walk away.  Johan SPEAKS IN A LOUD VOICE.

						JOHAN
			Tell your bed buddies we said hi.

						STEPHEN
			(already far away, he responds in 
			a loud voice too)
			CHURCH buddies, asswipe!

CUT TO:

INT. SORIANO HOUSE - FAMILY ROOM - NIGHT

After entering the house and taking off his shoes, Rick goes to the family room.  
His mom and dad are sitting on the couch watching TV.

						RICK
			Hi mom, hi dad...who’s winning?

						RICK’S MOM
			The Lakers, as usual.

On the TV, the LAKERS are playing a close game with the SAN ANTONIO SPURS.  
Rick FROWNS as he walks over to the kitchen.

						RICK
			As usual?  They’ve just lost 
			to the Clippers a few weeks ago...

						RICK’S DAD
			(in a non-serious manner)
			Don’t dwell on the past, son.

A pause.

						RICK’S MOM
			So did you buy your books today?

Rick grabs a FRIED DRUMSTICK from a bowl on the kitchen table and eats it while 
standing in front of the TV.  

						RICK
			Nope, I spent it all at the arcade.

						RICK’S MOM
			Okay.  Just make sure we don’t get 
			a letter anytime soon saying 
			you’re on academic probation.

A pause.

						RICK 
			(still chewing)
			YES, I bought my books.
			(looks at the drumstick)
			This is pretty good.

After a few seconds, he heads out the family room.  Rick’s mom CALLS OUT after him.

						RICK’S MOM
			Is that all you’re gonna eat?

						RICK
			(as he heads upstairs)
			I’m not really hungry.

On the TV, a LAKER player makes a SPECTACULAR MOVE.  Rick’s dad leans forward 
on the couch and PUMPS HIS FIST in the air in response.

						RICK’S DAD
			Nice shot!

INT. SORIANO HOUSE - RICK’S ROOM - NIGHT

Rick goes into his room and puts his backpack on the chair next to his table.  
Rick then goes to his bed to lie down.  He ponders for a while.

INT. PETERSON HALL BUILDING - ROOM 127 - FLASHBACK

Rick, a curious look on his face, stares at Denise Tran.  She turns to look at 
Rick.  Denise smiles for about a second before she looks away again.  

BACK TO PRESENT DAY

Rick contemplates more about the THOUGHT he just had.  

						RICK (VO)
			Denise Tran...

Turning to look at the computer, Rick then gets up from the bed, removes 
his backpack from his chair, and sits on it.  He turns on his computer 
and once again takes the SCRIPT FORMATS packet out of a DRAWER in his table.

						RICK
			(talks to himself)
			I might actually have something 
			to write about.

CUT TO:

EXT. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - HOUSE - MIDNIGHT

SUBTITLE: “NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...12:00 A.M.”

An exterior glimpse of a house with the lights still on inside.  There are 
A LOT OF CARS parked next to the curb of the house.  One can hear the SOUND 
OF MUSIC and people talking inside the home...making it apparent that there 
is a party going on.

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MIDNIGHT

Dandren, who is holding a BEER BOTTLE in his hand, is sitting on a couch in 
the living room while all around him are other 20-SOMETHINGS conversing with 
each other.  Most of these people are DRINKING AND SMOKING, while some of them 
ARE DOING OTHER THINGS to have a GOOD TIME.  

One of Dandren’s friends, name SUUNIL, sits on the couch next to him.  
Suunil is another 21-year old INDIAN-AMERICAN.  Dandren is looking at the 
other people while Suunil is BUSY TAKING THE CAP OFF the beer bottle he 
is holding in his hand.  Suunil then takes a sip from his bottle.

						DANDREN
			(also takes a sip from his beer)
			So what do you think?

						SUUNIL
			(after taking a sip from his beer)
			I dunno, man.  I don’t think we should be 
			here.
			(a pause)
			We weren’t even invited!

Suunil takes another sip from his drink.

						DANDREN
			I’m guessing Marco is gonna scrap ANY
			second now.

						SUUNIL
			Ya think?

Dandren and Suunil look at the MEXICAN-AMERICAN who is standing near the front 
doorway.  This is MARCO, who just like Dandren, has a shaved head, a goatee and 
is wearing baggy clothing.  Marco is conversing with FOUR OF HIS OTHER FRIENDS.  
Dandren and Suunil watch as Marco and his friends occasionally turn their heads 
to look at ANOTHER GROUP OF FOUR MEN who are conversing with each other.  The two 
groups OCCASIONALLY STARE DOWN one another.

						SUUNIL
			I don’t even see how you can attend the 
			party of someone you don’t like.

						DANDREN
			That’s what I’m saying...
			(a pause)

Dandren and Suunil then notice as Marco and his ENTOURAGE are staring down the 
other group of men at a LONGER RATE.  Suunil SHAKES HIS HEAD as he takes another 
SIP from his beer.

						SUUNIL
			I should’ve stayed at my apartment.

						DANDREN
			You have school tomorrow?

						SUUNIL
			Yea.  You?

						DANDREN
			Yup.

A pause.

						DANDREN
			We’re screwed.

The two begin to notice that the rest of the people in the house are seeing what 
IS COMING DOWN between the two groups of men.

						SUUNIL
			Damn...I do NOT want to get involved in this.

						DANDREN
			Neither do I.

						SUUNIL
			Let’s just go up to Marco and tell hi- 
						
Suunil IS ABRUPTLY CUT OFF.  A LARGE, CRASHING sound is heard as Marco and his 
friends PUSH DOWN SEVERAL PIECES OF FURNITURE to CHARGE towards the other group 
of men.

						SUUNIL
			Fuck!!

The rest of the people in the house STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING to watch the fight take 
place.  Dandren and Suunil watch the two sides in the SKIRMISH exchange punches 
with each other.  There are some people outside the two groups who JOIN IN THE 
CONFRONTATION.  

						DANDREN
			Dayamn...

Dandren and Suunil continue to remain spectators until Suunil spots SOMEONE 
TAKING OUT A KNIFE and heading towards Marco.  Dandren SEES THE ASSAILANT 
as well.

						DANDREN
			That fool has a knife!

Dandren and Suunil RUSH TOWARDS the confrontation...and Dandren is the first one 
to tackle the guy who was about to STAB Marco.  In response, TWO OF THE ASSAILANT’S 
FRIENDS head toward Dandren and Suunil to push them away.  This prompts Dandren 
and Suunil to ENTER THE SCUFFLE.

EXT. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - HOUSE - MIDNIGHT

Police cars arrive outside the house.  POLICE OFFICERS are then seen exiting 
from the cars and heading toward the SCUFFLE inside. 

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MIDNIGHT

The scuffle CONTINUES until the officers STORM THROUGH the front door with 
their GUNS DRAWN.  The fight ends after everybody in the confrontation 
RAISES HIS ARMS UP after being ordered to do so.

EXT. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - HOUSE - MIDNIGHT

CARS DRIVE AWAY from the house after the party is abruptly put to an end.  
All the people who were INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT, Dandren and Suunil included, 
are forced to sit on the curb on the sidewalk while the POLICE OFFICERS are 
writing up THEIR REPORTS.

After talking to a police officer, Marco-who is covering a CUT ON HIS FOREHEAD 
with a tissue-heads toward the curb.  He goes to where Dandren and Suunil are 
sitting.  Marco then sits next to them...with Suunil being the one sitting in 
the middle of the group.

Dandren’s right eye is BLACK AND SWOLLEN while Suunil is using a tissue paper 
to cover a CUT on his lip.  There is a pause as Marco SHAKES HIS HEAD and SIGHS.

						MARCO
			Sorry dawgs, I didn’t mean 
			to get you two into this.

						DANDREN
			It’s coo.

						SUUNIL
			Hey- Someone  tried to shank you with a  
			knife, man.  You think we were just gonna 
			sit there?

Marco exchanges high fives with his two friends.

						MARCO
			Thanks for watching my back, fellas.

						SUUNIL
			So what are you gonna do after this?

						MARCO
			You mean after someone bails me out of jail?
			(shakes his head)
			Go home.  If I stay here any longer 
			I might get caught up in more shit.

						DANDREN
			Same here.

						MARCO
			You going home, too?

						DANDREN
			Yup.  

A car parked next to them, Dandren stands up to look at his BLACK EYE in the 
car’s side view mirror.  Suunil and Marco then look at Dandren as he GOES BACK 
to the curb before a POLICE OFFICER walks by.

						DANDREN
			I guess I gotta tell my folks about this.
			(a pause)
			After someone bails ME out of jail.

CUT TO:

EXT. LONG BEACH STATE - PETERSON HALL BUILDING - AFTERNOON

SUBTITLE: “MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5.”

As usual, STUDENTS continue to stroll down the walkway next to the building.