His girlfriend frowns as she sees Denise approach them.  Owen, with him and 
his girlfriend NOT MOVING a step, stands where he is while Denise stands 
FACE-TO-FACE with him.  Stephen, Johan and Rick WATCH the action take place 
while still sitting on the couch.  Rob and his friends, too busy conversing 
with other PARTYGOERS, now turn to look at what is about to TRANSPIRE.  
Denise BRIEFLY GAZES at the stripper before looking back at Chau.

						DENISE
			So this is why you haven’t returned my 
			calls, huh?

						OWEN
			Denise, I don’t want to talk about this 
			right now...

						DENISE
			Yea?- Well, I do!  If you were gonna do
			this to me then you could at least have the 					
			decency to tell me you wanted to break up!

The other PARTYGOERS turn to see what the COMMOTION is.

						OWEN
			Look, I don’t have time for this.  I- 

						DENISE
			How could you do this to me??

A pause.

						OWEN
			You wanna know why I did this to you?  
			It’s because you’re TOO DAMN busy with
			school and that internship you have...   
			That’s why I did this to you!  You 
			hardly have any time for me!

Jon Alba and his two groupies are among the MANY who are watching the 
confrontation.

						JON
			You know- If I wanted to watch 
			soap operas I’d have stayed at home.

						GROUPIE #1
			You watch soap operas?

						JON
			Yup, you?

						GROUPIE #2
			“Days of our Lives”...

						JON
			That’s my favorite too!

BOTH GROUPIES then KISS Jon on the cheek.  Soriano continues watching the 
ARGUMENT take place.

						OWEN
			Do you realize just how shitty 
			our relationship is?

						DENISE
			Well- I’m just TRYING to act like an
			adult, Owen.

						OWEN
			Adult??  That’s bullshit!!!
			(a pause)
			What, just because you’re 22-fuckin’ years
			old you have to have a 9 to 10-hour job at 
			some	medical office?  You have to take so 
			many damn units at school that you can’t 
			even drop by my pad often to say what’s up?  
			(another pause)
			I didn’t get with you just to hear you talk 	
			about how stressful your classes are.  I got 
			with you so we can do things like mess 
			around...or FUCK!

Partygoers are TAKEN ABACK by Owen’s LAST COMMENT.  Mark looks at Dandren.

						MARK
			He sure knows how to pick the right words 
			to say, does he?

						DANDREN
			He should become a politician while he’s at
			it.  Like Rob Dole.

						MARK
			BOB Dole.

						DANDREN
			Whatever.

Katherine, still standing FAR from Niema, looks at him and then back to Chau.

						KATHERINE
			What an asshole.

Denise is AT A LOST for words.  

She briefly looks at Rick before she looks at Owen again.  
In the short second she looked at him, Rick gets a hint that 
things are about to change DRAMATICALLY.

						DENISE
			I’m sorry Owen.  Even if you were as 
			busy as I am...I wouldn’t have done what  
			you’re doing to me right now.

						OWEN
			You’re right.  I would’ve slapped your ass 
			around if you did.  DUUUMB BITCH!

Denise has a STUNNED look on her face, and so does Chau’s girlfriend.  Rick, 
after hearing that, gets up from the couch and walks toward the three people.

						RICK
			Hey, why do you have to treat Denise like 
			that?

						OWEN
			Dude, fuck off...this is none of your
			business.

						RICK
			Yea, well-I’ll make it my business!

						OWEN
			Oh, YOU WILL??

Owen SUDDENLY SHOVES Rick against a wall.  Hitting the wall, Rick 
quickly LEANS FORWARD to shove Chau back.  Chau then THROWS A PUNCH, but 
Rick DUCKS IN TIME.  He is now CAUGHT OFF GUARD as Owen shoves him 
back again.  This time Rick FALLS TO THE GROUND.  

Obviously, EVERYONE in the room now turns to watch the FIGHT.

						OWEN
			So you think you’re Mr. Righteous now, huh? 
			If you were so righteous, you wouldn’t have 
			went to that fuckin’ strip joint as well- 
			Bastard!

Denise frowns at Chau’s comment.

						RICK
			Yea, well at least I didn’t have a 
			GIRLFRIEND that time!

Rick, still kneeling on the ground, throws a punch at Owen-and 
HITS him in the crotch.  Owen grimaces as he JERKS backward.

Mihran and his friends TAKE DELIGHT at the situation.

						NIEMA
			Nice move, Rick...now kick his ass!

						ALBERT
			(still drunk)
			Yea, toss his salad!

Albert’s friends FROWN at him.  Owen, still grimacing from the hit to his lower 
body area, SWINGS an arm at Rick, and this time HITS HIM in the face.  
Soriano hits a wall again.  Chau looks at Rob and the other UCLA guys, who 
are watching the action take place from ACROSS the room.

						OWEN
			Why don’t you retards back me up??

						ROB
			Sorry, man- We also think it’s 
			messed up what you did to Denise.

Owen FROWNS in response.  He then turns to look at Rick, but is still CAUGHT 
OFF-GUARD as Rick SUCKER-PUNCHES him in the face.  Owen QUICKLY RECOVERS from 
the blow and gets Rick by the NECK and PINS HIM against the table.  It is at 
this time that Dandren, Mark, Stephen and Johan leave the couch.  Chau PICKS UP 
an EMPTY BEER BOTTLE from the table and prepares to swing it at Rick’s FACE.  
Denise watches in HORROR...

						OWEN
			You shouldn’t have fucked with me, man!

Owen is ABOUT TO SWING the bottle when Dandren SNEAKS UP on him and 
PUNCHES HIM in the face...KNOCKING Chau to the ground as a result.  
Mark looks at the guy ON THE FLOOR and then back to Dandren.

						MARK
			Nice hit!

						DANDREN
			(nods as he rubs his hand
			from the pain of impact)
			Thanks.

Chau slowly gets up from the table, and is about to RUSH Dandren 
when Mark, Stephen and Johan suddenly BLOCK HIS PATH.

						MARK
			Nice try, sir.  But you’ve made an ass 
			out of yourself enough times already.

						JOHAN
			And you call yourself a Bruin- 

						STEPHEN
			-and a church buddy.
			(he frowns; he then looks at Johan)
			OKAY, that was pretty LAME.

Owen looks at his girlfriend.

						OWEN
			Screw this.  Let’s go, baby.

						GIRLFRIEND
			After the way you treated your other
			girlfriend?  I DON’T think so...

Chau angrily shakes his head as he walks TOWARD the room’s exit.  

						OWEN
			Man, fuck all of you!!

Mihran turns to look at his friends after Owen EXITS the room.

						NIEMA
			That shit was TIGHT!!!

His friends laugh in response, while the rest of the PARTYGOERS in the 
room begin CHEERING.  Katherine walks up to Niema.

						KATHERINE
			Hey there, Niema.

						NIEMA
			YEEAAA- 
			(a surprised expression emerges 
			on his face)
			Oh, uh...hey Kathy.

Katherine looks toward the SPOT where the fight took place.

						KATHERINE
			Would you have stood up for me?

						NIEMA
			Um- 
			(a smile suddenly emerges on his face)
			Damn right, I would!!

						KATHERINE
			Awww...

A pause.  Katherine then grabs Niema by the face and KISSES HIM.
Rick is helped off the table by Johan and Stephen.  

						RICK
			Thanks guys.
			(He then looks at Dandren and 
			gives him a high five)
			Thanks for watching my back, man.

						DANDREN
			Yea, I’m starting to get pretty good
			at this stuff.

Rick then looks on as Denise WALKS UP TO HIM.  Another pause.

						DENISE
			So you went to a strip joint, huh?

Rick nods with a DOWN LOOK on his face.

						RICK
			I’m as much a jerk Owen is.

He is about to walk away when Denise GRABS ONE OF HIS ARMS.

						DENISE
			STILL...a jerk who looked out for me.  
			Thanks, Ricky.

						RICK
			So what’s gonna happen between you two?

						DENISE
			Owen didn’t understand me, even though
			we were together for a year.
			(a pause as she has a contemplative
			look on her face)
			I guess I gotta move on now- with someone 
			better... 
			(she stares directly into Rick’s 
			eyes)

Denise then grins.  Despite smiling as well, Soriano has a 
skeptical look on his face.

						RICK
			You’re not just settling for me, are you?

						DENISE
			I knew you were gonna ask that.

Denise smiles as she LEANS OVER to put HER FACE CLOSER to Rick’s.
Their lips are only a FEW CENTIMETERS from contact.

						DENISE
			Of course, not!

She then KISSES HIM on the cheek.  Rick is AT A LOST for words.

						RICK
			Now, I know this is REALLY like a bad 
			romance film.

Denise beams more in response.  A few seconds later, 
TWO POLICE OFFICERS ENTER the room.

						POLICE OFFICER #1
			Someone reported a disturbance?

Dandren ROLLS HIS EYES as he looks at Johan, Stephen and Mark.

						DANDREN
			NOT AGAIN.

PEOPLE AROUND THE ROOM shake their heads.  The TWO POLICE OFFICERS 
frown at each other.

						POLICE OFFICER #2
			O-kay...

The two officers then leave the room.  Chang looks at Dandren.

						STEPHEN
			You got lucky, man.

Katherine and Niema walk up to Denise.

						KATHERINE
			If you excuse me Niema and I will be 
			outside, um, TALKING to each other.  
			By the way, Denise- I would’ve won that bet.
			(Denise smiles; Kathy then whispers to her)
			Make a move, girl.

Denise watches her and Rick’s friend walk away.  

						NIEMA
			Later, Rick!

Denise turns to look back at Rick.  They both SMILE.

						RICK
			What bet?

CUT TO:

EXT. SORIANO HOUSE - DAY

All is QUIET outside the Soriano house.

INT. SORIANO HOUSE - RICK’S ROOM - DAY

Rick looks INSPIRED as he TYPES AWAY on his computer.

INSERT - THE SCRIPT

			“...Smiling at her boyfriend, Deanne then LEANS 				
			OVER to kiss him on the lips.  Rich takes a HOLD 
			OF HER HAND, and they both continue making their 
			way down the college campus.

FADE-OUT

THE END”

BACK TO SCENE

Rick LEANS BACK in his chair after the LAST WORD is typed in 
his script.  Done pondering, he then reaches over to turn on 
the PRINTER.

						RICK
			Okay... Time to print this thing.

CUT TO:

EXT. SORIANO HOUSE - DAY

SUBTITLE: “MAY 20...”

SUBTITLE #2: “A FEW MONTHS LATER.”

Phil’s Honda Accord PULLS UP next to the curb outside the house.  
He and Lisa then emerge from the vehicle seconds later.

INT. SORIANO HOUSE - DAY

Phil and Lisa enter the house with more baggage than just the 
two pieces of luggage Lisa LEFT WITH four months earlier.

						LISA
			I’m home!

The Mom and Dad enter the living room to give their daughter a 
hug and a kiss.

						DAD
			Hi sweetheart, how was Germany?

						LISA
			It was great!

						MOM
			Did you have a nice trip?

						LISA
			(smiles and nods)
			Yea!  You two should go there sometime...
			It’s pretty nice.  Especially in the Rhine
			Valley.

						DAD
			Don’t worry, we’ll go.  Just not anytime  
			THIS year!

The Mom PLAYFULLY shoves the Dad as they leave the room.  She 
turns to look at Lisa and Phil as she does so.

						MOM
			Food’s on the table if you two are hungry.

						LISA
			Okay, mom.

Lisa then SEES Rick standing outside his room...holding the SCRIPT 
in one of his hands.  She and Phil walk upstairs.

						LISA
			So, did you finish it?

						RICK
			I’m holding it in my hand, aren’t I?

Lisa smiles as Rick hands her the screenplay.

						PHIL
			So what’s it about?

						RICK
			(shrugs)
			It’s mostly based on the experiences
			I had in the past few months.
 
						LISA
			(as she skims through the pages)
			Oh?

						RICK
			Yup- 
			(making it sound like a joke)
			But it’s primarily a love story.

Lisa hands Phil the script so he can take a look at it.  Lisa 
then opens her purse.

						LISA
			So how much do I owe you?

						RICK
			Actually...There were other things that
			inspired me to write this script.

						LISA
			Really?

						RICK
			Yup, I found motivation elsewhere.

Lisa NODS in response.  She is ABOUT to close her purse- 

						RICK
			BUT-I didn’t say I no longer needed the 
			money...

Lisa rolls her eyes and smiles while opening her purse again.  She 
then hands $30 to Rick.  He puts the money in his pocket.

						RICK
			(nods)
			Thank you.

CUT TO:

EXT. LONG BEACH STATE - PETERSON HALL BUILDING - AFTERNOON

SUBTITLE: “LAST DAY OF THE SEMESTER.”

Rick and Denise exit from the Peterson Hall building.

						DENISE
			So you’re finally in your major, huh?

						RICK
			Yup, I passed that writing test with
			flying colors.

						DENISE
			That’s good.  I aced that exam, too.

						RICK
			Good job!

Rick reaches over to briefly put his arm AROUND HER SHOULDER.
	
						RICK
			I’m proud of you.

Denise smiles in response.

						DENISE
			So tell me more about that screenplay
			you wrote.

						RICK
			Well, it’s an unusual college flick- About 
			some dude who decides to write a script 
			based on a bunch of events he and his 
			friends go through.

						DENISE
			Sounds good...

						RICK
			And over the course of those events,
			he meets a girl at school that he 
			later falls in love with.

						DENISE
			Gee, I wonder where you got THAT idea
			from...

Rick then turns to look at Denise.  Denise SMILES in response, and 
LEANS OVER to KISS HIM ON THE LIPS.  A pause afterwards, as she now 
has an earnest look on her face.

						DENISE
			Now that school’s over, we have the entire
			summer to make this relationship work.
			(her companion remains silent)
			Aren’t you looking forward to it?

Rick takes a HOLD OF ONE OF HER HANDS.

						RICK
			What do you think?

Denise smiles again as they CONTINUE WALKING.

						DENISE
			So what’s your script called?

						RICK
			You wanna know?  Okay, get ready for this- 

A pause.

						RICK
			I call it... Hardcores.

						DENISE
			(having both a smile and a frown)
			Hardcores??

						RICK
			Yea, what’s wrong with that?  

						DENISE
			(smiles even more)
			I dunno... Couldn’t you pick a 
			better name?

						RICK
			What are you talking about?!  
			It’s a cool name!  It describes a 
			story that’s a mixture of romance, 
			drama, and comedy.  It’s awesome!

						DENISE
			‘Hardcores’ describes all that?

						RICK
			Yea, you just gotta put more 
			thought into it!  Anyway, this is 
			how the story goes.  There’s this 
			guy name Rich, and he’s...

Rick CONTINUES EXPLAINING the story to Denise, who LAUGHS CHEERFULLY to 
what he is telling her.  

Still hand-in-hand, they CONTINUE MAKING THEIR WAY down the college campus.

                                               FADE-OUT

                                               THE END