FADE IN:

 

INT. PARADISE UNIVERSITY – JASON’S ROOM – DAY

JASON (early-20s), dressed in typical goth fashion, sits at a desk reading a TABLET COMPUTER.

LEVI (early-20s), whose face could be described as interesting and memorable, comes in.

Jason turns around. He gets to his feet.

He goes to Levi, smiling.

JASON

Hey, honey.

He tries to kiss Levi, but at the last second, Levi turns his head so that Jason kisses him on the cheek. Levi gives Jason a fake smile when Jason looks at him suspiciously.

LEVI

Hey.

Levi takes a few steps further into the room. Jason turns around to face him.

JASON

Everything OK?

LEVI

Yeah.

JASON

Need help unpacking?

LEVI

That’s what pledges are for.

JASON

What would you think if I pledged?

LEVI

I don’t think August Fraternity is really your scene.

Jason tries to take Levi’s hand, but Levi pulls his hand away.

JASON

OK . . . What’s going on?

LEVI

Nothing.

JASON

You’ve been acting weird. Is something going on?

LEVI

Not this again – Have you been taking your medication?

Jason’s eyes narrow.

JASON

(affronted)

Yes.

Levi goes to the desk.

LEVI

Good.

JASON

Levi . . . Are you sure you don’t want to go with me and Alex to the falls?

LEVI

Why would I want to go there?

JASON

(excited)

I just read that there have been multiple UFO sightings over the past few nights.

Jason picks up the TABLET.

LEVI

I think I’ll skip the little green men.

JASON

Well, I thought I’d post an ad on the student message board. See if anyone else is interested.

LEVI

That’s great – Can I borrow the video camera?

JASON

Sure – What for?

LEVI

I promised mom I’d send her some video of the ocean . . . Stuff like that.

Jason sets the TABLET down. He opens the DESK DRAWER. He takes out a CAMCORDER CASE.

He hands the CASE to Levi.

JASON

Want some company?

LEVI

Nah – You’d just be bored.

JASON

(suspicious)

OK.

LEVI

It’s Hell Week – I’ve got a lot of stuff to do.

INT. PARADISE UNIVERSITY – JASON’S ROOM – DAY – THE NEXT DAY

Alexandria sits on the bed, pulling TAROT CARDS, one by one out, of the DECK in her hands.

Jason sits at the desk with a laptop and the camcorder in front of him.

ALEXANDRIA (early-20s), dressed in New Age clothes, lays down the REVERSE WHEEL OF FORTUNE, the LOVERS, the TOWER, the MAGICIAN and the TEN OF SWORDS CARDS.

Jason plugs on end of a USB CORD into the CAMCORDER and the other end into the LAPTOP.

Alexandria looks up from the cards, worried.

The laptop screen displays two video files.

ALEXANDRIA

Jason –

JASON

Why are there two files?

ALEXANDRIA

Jason. I think you should –

JASON

Must be Levi’s scenery video.

Jason DOUBLE-CLICKS on the first video displayed on the screen.

The video, shot from a dresser in a bedroom, shows ALESTER (mid-20s) naked, sitting on the edge of the bed and receiving oral sex from another young man.

JASON (CONT’D)

What is this?

Alexandria climbs off of the BED.

She goes to Jason’s side and stares at the screen.

The video shows Alester leaning his head back.

ALESTER (O.S.)

(in ecstasy)

Oh yeah . . . That feels so good.

The young man bobs his head faster between ALESTER’S (mid-20s) legs.

ALEXANDRIA

Isn’t that?

JASON

My ex . . . Alester – But, what –

His question catches in his throat when he sees, on the video, Alester guide LEVI to his feet.

Alester unbuttons LEVI’S PANTS and pulls them down.

He leans forward and kisses Levi’s stomach.

Levi runs his hands through Alester’s hair as Alester continues kissing his stomach.

Alester pulls Levi into BED.

He crawls over Levi.

Watching the video, Jason has a blank expression on his face.

On the video, Alester kisses Levi’s chest.

Alester sits back on his legs, between Levi’s legs, and gives Levi a sly grin.

ALESTER (O.S.)

Take them off.

ALEXANDRIA

Jason.

On the video, Levi lifts his bottom off of the bed and pulls his EMERALD GREEN UNDERWEAR down.

Alester grabs the UNDERWEAR.

While Levi lifts his legs, Alester pulls Levi’s UNDERWEAR off.

Alester throws the UNDERWEAR onto the FLOOR.

ALEXANDRIA (CONT’D)

Turn it off.

Jason pushes the fast forward BUTTON on-screen.

In fast forward mode, Jason sees Alester and Levi having sex.

ALEXANDRIA (CONT’D)

Turn it off!

Alexandria SNAPS THE LAPTOP CLOSED.

Jason sits in shock, staring as if the video were still playing.

Alexandria touches Jason’s shoulder.

Jason shrugs her hand away.

He stands up and storms out of the room, SLAMMING THE DOOR behind him.

 

INT. SEVENTH LEVEL BAR – DAY

Jason sits on a STOOL at the bar, drinking BEER.

Levi walks in, spots Jason, and starts toward him.

Jason sees Levi, sets the BEER down and stands up.

Jason gets in Levi’s face. Levi stops, wide-eyed.

JASON

I found your video!

LEVI

What video?

JASON

You know exactly what I’m talking about – I guess you forgot to delete it!

LEVI

Sweetie –

JASON

And with Alester? Of all people!

The owner and bartender, MAX (50s), comes around the bar and goes to them.

 

MAX

Calm it down, boys.

JASON

(glaring at Levi)

It’s OK, Max, He was just leaving.

Levi has a look of desperation on his face.

JASON (CONT’D)

We’re through, Levi. I never want to see you again.

 

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – HALLWAY – DAY

Alester, half dressed, opens the DOOR to Levi.

He blocks the doorway.

ALESTER

What are you doing here?

LEVI

Jason broke up with me.

ALESTER

(insincere)

That’s terrible.

Inside the apartment, a NUDE MAN walks from one room to another, across the hall.

Levi looks from inside to Alester.

Alester looks over his shoulder. He has a devilish smile on his face.

He looks back at Levi’s shocked expression.

ALESTER (CONT’D)

What?

LEVI

I –

ALESTER

We had fun, but that’s all it was.

LEVI

I thought you said you deleted the file.

ALESTER

I must not have done it right – You know me and electronics.

The Nude Man walks back across the hall.

Alester looks back into the apartment and then back to Levi.

ALESTER (CONT’D)

Now, if you’ll excuse me.

He shuts the DOOR in Levi’s face.

 

INT. AUGUST FRATERNITY – LEVI’S ROOM – NIGHT

A lamp, framed photograph of Levi and Jason together and a bottle of dark liquor set on a night stand beside of the bed where Levi sits.

Levi picks up the BOTTLE OF LIQUOR and takes a SWIG.

He places the BOTTLE back on the DESK.

He picks up the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH and stares at it.

He pulls a PHONE out of his POCKET.

He touches the SCREEN a few times.

He stares at the PHONE.

He puts the PHONE back in his POCKET.

 

INT. PARADISE UNIVERSITY – JASON’S ROOM – NIGHT

Jason takes a copy of the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH OF HE AND LEVI TOGETHER.

He throws the FRAME in the WASTEBASKET between the bed and the desk.

He flops down on the BED.

There is a KNOCK at the door.

Alexandria comes in.

ALEXANDRIA

Hey.

JASON

Hey.

Alexandria goes to Jason.

She sits down on the BED beside of Jason.

ALEXANDRIA

Are you OK? Really?

JASON

(sarcastic)

Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?

ALEXANDRIA

Come on. You know you can talk to me.

JASON

(angry)

How could I be so stupid?

ALEXANDRIA

You’re not stupid.

JASON

He lied to me . . . And I knew . . .

He looks into Alexandria’s eyes.

JASON (CONT’D)

I knew, damn it! How could he do this to me?

Alexandria pulls him into a hug.

 

INT. AUGUST FRATERNITY – LEVI’S ROOM – NIGHT

Levi sits at a ROLL TOP DESK by the light of black candles. He wears a long-sleeve shirt.

A taxidermied owl and a censer sit on top of an inverted pentagram that has been painted on the desk top. Jars of herbs and roots, one labeled water hemlock, and bottles of spooky fluids fill almost every space in the desk.

The framed photograph of Levi and Jason together sets on a shelf above the desk, reflecting candlelight.

He takes the JAR OF HEMLOCK ROOTS and removes the LID.

He shakes some of the roots onto the pentagram.

He puts the LID back onto the JAR and replaces it.

He looks up at the framed photograph.

He takes the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH and looks at the image adoringly.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM – NIGHT

Alester sits at a desk reading from a school textbook. He wears a university T-shirt.

The DOORBELL rings. He rubs his eyes.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – HALLWAY – DAY – MOMENTS LATER

Alester opens the DOOR to Levi, who carries TWO CUPS OF COFFEE IN A DRINK CARRIER.

LEVI

I thought you’d be up.

ALESTER

What is it now?

LEVI

I thought you could use some caffeine.

Alester steps aside.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – DEN – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS

With a smile on his face, Levi hands one of the CUPS to Alester, keeping his hand in the sleeve.

LEVI

Careful. It’s hot.

Alester takes the LID off and carefully sips the COFFEE.

ALESTER

It’s a little sweet.

LEVI

Just like you.

ALESTER

I told you –

LEVI

I know – I’m not going stalker on you.

ALESTER

Good.

Alester takes another sip of COFFEE.

LEVI

Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to whatever it is you’re doing.

ALESTER

(seductively)

I could use a break.

LEVI

I’ve got things to do.

Levi goes to the door.

He uses his SLEEVE to turn the DOORKNOB.

He steps into the hallway. He turns around, still smiling.

Alester goes to the door.

LEVI (CONT’D)

Have a good night.

Alester CLOSES the DOOR.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – HALLWAY – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS

Levi’s smile turns into a sneer.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – DEN – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS

As Alester walks toward the bedroom, he takes another sip of COFFEE.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – HALLWAY – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS

Levi walks down the deserted hallway.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM – NIGHT – LATER

Alester sits at the desk, trying to read from the textbook. He wipes sweat from his brow. He looks at his shaking hand.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – BATHROOM – NIGHT – MOMENTS LATER

On his knees in front of the toilet, Alester VOMITS.

He FLUSHES THE TOILET.

He stands up, unsteady. His lips and fingertips are bluish in color.

INT. ARKHAM APARTMENTS – ALESTER’S APARTMENT – BEDROOM – NIGHT – CONTINUOUS

Alester collapses onto the FLOOR.

He rolls over onto his back. He froths at the mouth and seizes.

INT. AUGUST FRATERNITY – LEVI’S ROOM – NIGHT

Levi picks up the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH of him and Jason from the shelf.

He looks at it lovingly.

He hugs the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH against his chest.

Almost dancing, he spins around as he crosses the room.

He flops down on his back on the BED.

He holds the FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH above him.

He touches the IMAGE OF JASON adoringly.

 

FADE OUT.

 

END

By Justin H. Guess