PROMISE
written by Jack McVee
*note: while this has been labelled a romance/comedy, there is still some mighty hefty drama, but that's not really till later. So... just be forewarned.
FADE IN
Two pairs of closed eyes. The CAMERA widens to reveal the handsome, pleasant face of AIDEN REDFIELD. He's a boy-next-door-type, no more than 18 years old. While Aiden is usually friendly and outgoing, right now? He's asleep.
AIDEN (V.O.)
Dear Self. Events don't get any bigger than your
first day at university. Unless... it's your first time
having sex. Or getting married. Or giving birth.
Or dying. Or... being born, I guess. But, aside from
those last two, I'm unlikely to experience anything
bigger than this.
The CAMERA widens further to reveal Aiden is asleep in the backseat of a moving car. His mother, GLORIA, a beautiful businesswoman in her 40s, drives along a moderately busy highway. Any seat that does not contain Aiden or his mother has been used as placeholders for moving boxes.
AIDEN (V.O.)
But... don't get me wrong. I'm not emo or anything.
I mean, just look at me. Being emo would imply that
you adhere to a certain style. If my style was any
more whitebread, my clothes would be translucent.
Which... would make for some interesting walks
down the street.
Aiden's mouth opens slightly, and a spot of drool dribbles down onto his shirt.
AIDEN (V.O.)
High school is dead and gone. It surprisingly wasn't
that memorable for me, in that nothing remotely
interesting, cute, or funny happened during those
supposedly tortorous four years. Oh, there was
that one thing.
FLASH BACK: Aiden, two years younger, is walking down the busy hallways of his high school. A random passerbyer spills coffee all over the side of his shirt.
Present-day Aiden continues to drool.
AIDEN (V.O.)
Yeah, that was somewhat funny. If you weren't me.
Summer consisted, pretty much, of me going
through job after job. My first job was at American
Eagle. I sorta... got fed up with this one customer.
FLASHBACK: Aiden, two months younger, is working the front cash register at American Eagle. A trashy-looking pregnant woman in her early 20s hands him a pair of jeans.
AIDEN
(to Trashy, with increasing anger)
You know, instead of blowing $120 on faux mall-punk
jeans, maybe instead you should pay the water bill
so you and your children can TAKE BATHS!
Present-day Aiden stops drooling, but his mouth remains open in an unflattering way.
AIDEN (V.O.)
Then there was my one-day job at the local video
store, which happened to also sell adult content.
There was a pretty good reason as to why I lasted
only one day.
FLASHBACK: Aiden, one month younger, putting away videos in an aisle. A man in his 50s walks up to him, being quite friendly.
MAN
Hi! Could you tell me if you guys have Barely
Legal Cum Queens 5 in stock?
Present-day Aiden's eyes flutter open, taking a while to register light and movement.
AIDEN (V.O.)
But, somehow, sadly, I don't quite think my freshman
year here at the Camebridge University will be as
hilarious or wacky as my summer adventures. Going
from being a relative nobody in a medium-sized population
to a relative nobody in a gigantic-sized population... might
prove to be a challenge. Oh, and there I go with the emo
again! Maybe I need to get those black-rimmed glasses
and a LiveJournal.
GLORIA
What were you dreaming about?
AIDEN
What?
GLORIA
You told me once that whenever you fall asleep in the
car you have really vivid dreams.
AIDEN
Teeth.
GLORIA
What?
AIDEN
My teeth were falling out. It was an experience.
GLORIA
I'll bet.
They hit a speed bump. Aiden nearly hits his head on the roof.
GLORIA
Ooh, shit - sorry hun. You know, it would have been
GREAT if your dad could have at least offered to help
you move. His truck is at least twice the size of my car.
AIDEN
Dad's got his own thing going on.
GLORIA
Does that bother you?
She passingly glances at her rearview mirror, to see if it garnered a reaction from her son. Aiden just shrugs.
AIDEN
It's cool.
GLORIA
(nodding)
You're a teenager, alright.
Aiden looks away as he rolls his eyes. He catches sight of a "WELCOME TO CAMEBRIDGE UNIVERSITY" sign, shining like a beacon of light amidst a pitch black night.
CLOSE UP: Aiden's arm rest. His hand grips it tightly.
GLORIA
Nervous?
AIDEN
(very)
I may burp up a butterfly in a minute or so.
The CAMERA leaves the car and rises a little above the horizon so it can take in the absolutely MAMMOTH environment that is the university. It's very traditional: large, ivy covered brick buildings, many tree parks, sidewalks, bike paths, the works.
EXT. LAKE ROAD RESIDENCE BUILDING - LATE AFTERNOON
Gloria's car pulls up, and then whatever deity is behind making this screenplay magically appear in your head hits the FAST FORWARD BUTTON - everything suddenly reverts to a zippy fast motion as the following things happen (very, very quickly) as some light hearted, popular song plays in the background:
-Aiden exits the car, is greeted by a couple of Residence Dons
-Gloria exits the car, immediately instructs the Dons to help them move the boxes
-The Dons struggling with the boxes
-Aiden and The Dons entering the elevator while Gloria waits in the lobby
-Gloria checking her watch and tapping her foot rythmically
-Aiden and The Dons coming back down, loading up the remaining boxes
Normal-motion resumes as Gloria grabs Aiden in a desperate, all-consuming hug of epic proportions. Her face screws up in emotion.
GLORIA
I'll call you every night.
AIDEN
(being squeezed)
Okay.
GLORIA
Eat those vitamins I bought you.
AIDEN
(squished)
Alright.
GLORIA
Well, don't EAT them. Swallow them.
AIDEN
(compressed)
Will do.
GLORIA
With a glass of water.
AIDEN
(choked)
Yeah.
GLORIA
Everyday.
AIDEN
(strangled)
I know.
Gloria finally lets go, and Aiden can finally re-acquaint himself with oxygen. His mother looks at him with tears in her eyes. Aiden is slightly embarassed, but understanding.
AIDEN
You said you got all your crying out last night.
GLORIA
I did. But... I guess that makes me a liar.
AIDEN
Nah. It just makes you a mother.
Gloria can't help but smile. She raises a hand and brushes a stray hair away from her son's eyes.
GLORIA
You study hard, okay? I was close to amputating
my left arm and selling it to pay for you to be here.
AIDEN
That takes the pressure right off.
GLORIA
Oh, you'll do fine, sweetheart. Just... don't slack off?
AIDEN
(nodding)
Slack-free.
Gloria smiles again. Aiden smiles back.
GLORIA
I love you.
AIDEN
I love you too.
GLORIA
I'll call you tonight.
Aiden nods. His mother takes a gander at him one last time - seeing him not as her little boy, but as a responsible adult. She takes off before she cries again. Aiden waves after her.
After a moment of reflection, Aiden turns to head to the elevator, but realises that a female student and her own mother have been watching them the entire time. The mother, so full of emotion and sadness, lets out a pained cry and clings to her daughter for dear life. The daughter shoots Aiden an angry scowl.
Aiden meekly mouths "sorry" and quickly disappears into the elevator as soon as its doors open.
INT. AIDEN'S SUITE - LAKE ROAD RESIDENCE - LATER
A relatively small little kitchenette area that branches off into three rooms - a bathroom and two bedrooms. Aiden's bedroom door is wide open, with many boxes scattered lazily throughout the room. The front door opens and Aiden walks in, smiling quietly at his own little space.
He enters his bedroom and sits on his tiny, but serviceable bed. One of his boxes has already been opened - one that contains nothing but photographs. Aiden randomly pulls one out.
CLOSE UP: The photograph. An elderly couple sit and smile innocently, bathed under afternoon sunlight in an impossibly green park.
Aiden, in his mind, replays a conversation that we HEAR but do not see.
GRANDFATHER (V.O., flashback)
What do you think you'll do now?
AIDEN (V.O., flashback)
(with serious resolve)
I'm going to make a promise to myself.
MALE VOICE
YO!
Aiden nearly leaps out of his skin. He turns immediately to see that a guy around his age, brown hair with wild blonde streaks and a hyper disposition, has entered the suite, with a bizillion boxes in tow. This is NATHAN. Aiden stands, smiling.
NATHAN
You must be Aiden!
AIDEN
It's really nice to finally meet you.
They shake hands - Nathan shakes particularly hard.
NATHAN
Yeah! You too! When the university gave me your
email address I was like, "Whoa! I actually have
a roommate!"
AIDEN
Yes. You've... repeated this revelation quite a bit
during our MSN conversations.
NATHAN
(chuckling)
Sorry, man, I'm not normally this hyper. It's just...
COLLEGE!
Aiden smiles and nods.
AIDEN
Do you need any help with those?
NATHAN
Nah, I'm cool! Just open up my room for me.
Aiden walks over to Nathan's bedroom and swings it open. As Nathan starts dragging his stuff in to the empty room, Aiden leans on a wall adjacent to the door.
AIDEN
Isn't this completely strange? I mean... it's
a whole new environment... and a whole new
set of people... and we're HERE for eight
months and it's... insane and random and a
little frightening.
(concerned)
Do you feel the same way? Because I'm probably
being some overly-nervous dick who--
NATHAN
Oh, no, man! I totally agree! College is just so
overwhelming. I mean, you hardly know anyone
and there's so much change and transiti-- DOUGIE!
Aiden nearly leaps out of his skin again at that last proclamation. Nathan races out of his room to greet some random dude walking past the open door of their suite.
NATHAN
Holy shit, I had no idea you went here!
DOUGIE
Oh, are you kidding me? There are like, billions
of us Chelsea High veterans in the building...
NATHAN
Aw, hell yeah!
The CAMERA slowly pushes in on Aiden as he listens to their conversation, his face slowly revealing that he is indeed the only person in the room who feels completely out of place.
FADE TO
INT. COMMON ROOM - LAKE ROAD RESIDENCE - LATE THAT NIGHT
A large poster on a wall relays the following information:
"MEET-N-GREET 8pm IN THE COMMON ROOM!
GET TO KNOW YOUR FELLOW FROSH AND HAVE FUN!"
Aiden walks by the poster, then looks over at something off-screen. AIDEN'S POV: The gigantic common room, absolutely bustling with students getting to know one another. It's insane. Swallowing a nervous lump in his throat, Aiden enters the fray.
Students are chattering excitedly to each other, laughing, having a good time. Aiden appears lost in the crowd, scanning the room for a possible familiar face from high school, or for another lonely soul to empathize with. He spots Nathan.
AIDEN
(over the din)
NATHAN! NATHAN!
A few people move from Aiden's line of view to reveal that Nathan is actually entertaining a large group of people. They're laughing at his every word and every movement. Aiden watches, happy that his roommate isn't lonely, but disappointed that he can't latch on to him.
Putting on a courageous face, Aiden wanders over to the refreshments table and fishes out a root beer from the cooler. Something shines annoyingly in his face. Squinting and grimacing, he looks up to seek out the source.
AIDEN'S POV: Across the room, a light hits someone's watch and glares in Aiden's eyes. The shiny metal watch is attached to a rather attractive man - he looks around 19 or 20. Very tall, piercing blue eyes, dark hair, slightly unshaven. This is LOGAN. He's talking with two buddies.
Aiden stands and stares at Logan, as if he's fighting to NOT be mesmerized. Logan takes a sip of his drink and fleetingly glances in Aiden's direction. They sustain eye contact for a moment, and then both of them look away.
Embarassed, Aiden ducks his head low and disappears back into the crowd. The CAMERA does a speedy zoom throughout all the students to land on Logan and his two male friends.
LOGAN
It's simple, really. We have eight months in a
school year.
FRIEND #1
Yeah, but... what you're trying to do is insane.
FRIEND #2
But it's awesome. Don't get us wrong - definitely
awesome.
FRIEND #1
Oh yeah, it's great to have goals... but don't you
think you're being unrealistic.
LOGAN
What's unrealistic about aiming to sleep with 15
girls a month?
A beat. Friend 1 and 2 exchange a glance.
FRIEND #1
Look, we all know the ladies dig you, but... 128
girls in a school year?
LOGAN
122, actually. Somebody has to raise the bar,
here. It's not like you two douche bags are getting
your dicks turned blue by mad fucking every night.
His friends say nothing. Because he's right.
LOGAN
I'm probably gonna go on a little campus crawl for
some ass tonight. But I'm not doing it with you two.
You guys are vagina repellent.
FRIEND #2
Well, it's good to know where we stand.
The CAMERA does a zippy little zoomy thing through the crowd where we come upon AIDEN again, who has met a girl named ANNA. Anna is 17, full of life and charm. Her meek size may and enjoyable nature may lead some to believe she's a lot younger than she is.
ANNA is shaking Aiden's hand, and from the expression on Aiden's face, she's probably been shaking it for quite a while. Anna speaks with the rapid succession of a chipmunk.
ANNA
That is SO cool that you're Undeclared Major! I
meet SO many people who are like "Ooh, I'm in
Environment Biology, aren't I the smartest most
important person ever?" Have you seen the windows
in our suites? They're SO huge! But we don't have
curtains yet! So anyone could just look in! And
that's pretty scary! And I know that look on your
face and no, I won't be running out of breath any
time soon!
Aiden smiles at her weakly. A Don comes by and hands them both yellow sheets of paper, and Anna finally breaks off their perpetual handshake. As Aiden shakes his fingers to get some feeling in them, another Don at the front of the room speaks into a mic.
DON
Alright kiddos, you've most likely done this in
high school on your first day of classes. What
we have here is Social Bingo! Walk around the
room and ask people the questions on the blocks
and have em sign it if they answer 'yes'. Completing
all the blocks gets you a super awesome prize.
Anna and Aiden glance at each other.
AIDEN
It's not really bingo, is it?
ANNA
No, but I love doing stuff like this! I love people.
AIDEN
Well, I do too, but not in gigantic amounts like--
ANNA
Are you allergic to peanuts?
AIDEN
Okay, that was somewhat random, but--
ANNA
It's one of the questions on the paper.
AIDEN
Well, no, but...
(scans through the paper)
Ooh, I can read tarot cards. It's the third block
from the second left.
ANNA
AWESOME!
Aiden signs her paper and Anna zips off into the crowd like the energetic bunny that she is. He takes a look around to see that paper are already co-mingling, asking people questions from the paper, laughing at some witty responses they give each other. Having a good time.
Before he has the opportunity to scope someone out himself, NATHAN rushes up to him.
NATHAN
Hey dude!
AIDEN
Nathan! It's so nice seeing a familiar fa--
NATHAN
Yeah, um, I was just letting you know that me and
my buds are heading out to Red Eye's for the night.
AIDEN
Red Eye's?
NATHAN
It's like, THE campus pub, man!
AIDEN
Oh. You're... going for the entire night? Without a jacket?
(beat)
Wow, my mom's so overprotective she's posessed my body.
NATHAN
It's cool man. You'll be sound asleep by the time I
come in. I won't bother you at all.
Nathan rushes out to meet up with his friends. Stinged by disappointment, Aiden sits down on a nearby couch. A random girl comes up to him.
RANDOM GIRL
Hi, um, so... are you allergic to peanuts?
A beat. Aiden shakes his head slowly, giving the girl a fake "sorry" face. She sighs and troddles off. Aiden looks over and sees that LOGAN is across the room, paper in hand, waiting for a girl to finish signing his. Afterwards, he wanders for a bit, searching for someone else to question, but everyone's busy with each other.
For the second time, Logan and Aiden manage to make eye contact. After a moment of recognition, Logan points to him, then points to himself, then points to his paper. Aiden nods, and Logan smiles, headed right towards him. Aiden stands, his heart racing.
The Don from before once again approaches the mic at the front of the room and speaks excitedly into it. Feedback whines.
DON
Ladies and gents, we have a winner ALREADY!
Drop those papers! Anna Byrne, you win yourself
a pizza dinner!
ANNA, standing at the front of the room, shoots her arms in the air and squeals with excitement. Logan and Aiden glance at each other again. The game is done. The reason for their interaction has ceased. Logan just shrugs his shoulders and walks away. The enthusiasm that was built into Aiden just moments ago once again drains.
FADE TO
INT. COMMON ROOM - MIDNIGHT
The large majority of students have headed up into their rooms, suites, and dorms, or went out to some other big campus party. The only ones left are ANNA, AIDEN, a few random people, then LOGAN and his two friends. They're all fairly well spread out through the room.
Anna and Aiden sit on a couch, consuming the last of a large pizza.
AIDEN
You know, it was awesome that you shared it
with me, Anna... but your roommate should've
gotten some of the share, too.
ANNA
Oh! Well, as of now, my roommate is technically
nonexistant.
AIDEN
So... you killed her?
Anna laughs. It's a wild, insane, funny laugh - one that can make you join her without actually having heard the joke.
ANNA
Silly goose! She hasn't moved in yet. She's coming
in all the way from Vancouver so it'll be at least a
couple of days. I'm REALLY excited to meet her!
I hope she's cool. Is yours cool?
A pause. Aiden chooses his words carefully.
AIDEN
My roommate is popular.
ANNA
I guess that's cool! Better to have a lot friends than
a socially awkward loner, right?
Aiden nods, trying hard to show that that didn't hurt him.
ANNA
Oh, I'm so sorry! Sometimes I say stuff that offends
people without me meaning to offend them! I do that
all the time and I hate it! I'm sorry! Do you hate me?
AIDEN
(smiling)
No. You're actually the coolest person I met today.
ANNA
ME? I don't think you met a lot of people.
AIDEN
Actually, you're kinda right.
Anna squeals and throws a stray piece of crust at him.
ANNA
And on THAT note I have to hit the hay! I have
an orientation event that starts at like, 9 am!
Crazy world.
AIDEN
It's the craziest.
Anna cleans off her hands with a napkin, and picks up the empty pizza box.
ANNA
Au revoir. Remember, I'm on first floor, room 106.
AIDEN
Eight floor, 809. Thanks a bunch for the pizza, Anna!
She cutely waves bye-bye and disappears out of the room. Once she's gone, Aiden turns and surveys the room. LOGAN is standing and stretching, obviously about to leave. Aiden notes this and quickly heads out himself - to avoid an awkward 'goodbye' at the door, probably.
And here we enter another cheap movie gimmick, the SPLIT SCREEN.
The left screen is dedicated to LOGAN and the right screen is all about AIDEN.
L: Logan scratches himself leisurely and says goodnight to his friends.
R: Aiden heads quickly towards the elevators in the lobby, presses a button. Nothing.
L: Logan swaggers out of the common room, snapping his fingers.
R: Aiden groans, and heads toward a door labelled "STAIRCASE 2" and enters it.
L: Logan enters the lobby and hits the elevator button. Nothing.
R: Aiden walks quickly up the first flight of stairs, surrounded entirely by white walls.
L: Logan, annoyed, enters a door labelled "STAIRCASE 1".
R: Aiden hurries up the stairs as quickly as he can, as if racing his unseen opponent.
L: Logan whistles a jaunty tune, taking his sweet time with the stairs.
R: Aiden running, running, running, running.
L: Logan picks off a piece of lint from his hair, still taking his sweet time.
R: Aiden running, running, running, almost tripping, running.
L: Logan scratching his chest as he lets out another prodigious yawn.
R: Aiden finally approaches the Eighth Floor and enters the hallways.
L: Logan drums his fingers on the stairway railings, still walking.
R: Aiden approaches his front door and digs into his pockets.
L: Logan whistle turns to a higher pitch, accentuating the suspense inadvertantly
R: Aiden still with his hands in his pockets. Searching for his keys.
L: Logan approaching a door marked 'Eight Floor'. Hmm.
R: Aiden STILL searching for his keys. He makes an "Oh, shit" face.
L: Logan entering the eighth floor hall from the opposite end in which Aiden did.
R: Aiden turning his head and seeing Logan at the end of the otherwise empty hall.
L: Logan seeing Aiden.
R: Aiden still seeing Logan.
The split screens merge, and once again we are left with one single screen. Logan slowly walks toward Aiden, a smirk upon his face.
LOGAN
A fellow common room survivor.
AIDEN
(nervously)
Yeah.
Logan walks right up to him. The height difference is quite noticeable - Aiden is 5'10 while Logan is 6'2. Aiden has to crane his neck slightly to see him. Logan sticks out his hand.
LOGAN
Name's Logan.
AIDEN
I'm Aiden.
They shake hands, Aiden winces a bit but tries to hide it.
LOGAN
It's nice to meet you.
AIDEN
I'm nice to meet.
Aiden looks down and makes another "Oh, shit" face.
LOGAN
You live in 809? No shit, I'm right next door.
AIDEN
Really? Are you first year?
LOGAN
I'm second, actually.
AIDEN
Wow, you're practically a senior citizen.
LOGAN
I know, but I've been wearing Depends ever
since I was 12.
Aiden laughs. Logan smirks again, then notices Aiden has been searching his pockets for quite some time.
LOGAN
You are such a frosh.
AIDEN
What's that?
LOGAN
You've locked yourself out during your first day
of university.
Sighing, flustered, Aiden makes a pathetic punch at his own door.
AIDEN
Yeah, I'm definitely Big Man On Campus.
LOGAN
It's no big deal. We can just head over to the security
building and pick you up a spare.
AIDEN
Oh! That's an immensely good idea. Could you tell
me where it is?
LOGAN
Better yet, I'll walk you.
AIDEN
Oh, no... no, I don't wanna bother you.
LOGAN
Bother me? You're not bothering me. I'm not bothered.
AIDEN
You sure?
LOGAN
Yeah, what's the issue, here? Just being a good samaritan.
Logan raises his eyebrows in a deviously evil way. Aiden laughs again.
AIDEN (V.O.)
Dear Self. Okay, I know. He's probably the straightest
straight to have ever straighted. He's not even remotely
interested in me in that way. At all. Like he said, he's
just helping me out, as any person with a conscience
would. I mean... there's not much more to that, right?
AIDEN
(to Logan)
Right. Shall we go?
LOGAN
We shall. Tally ho!
They both head towards the stairs.
AIDEN (V.O.)
Besides, even if there was a possibility of... a possibility,
there's no way I could let anything happen. I mean... there's
a reason I made that promise.