Reticent (2024) Movie Script
1
(no audio)
(Cameron panting)
(Cameron sniffling)
(wind rustling)
(birds chirping)
(bright music)
(wind rustling)
(feet shuffling)
Hey Sam.
Hi, Liv.
What are you doing?
Just collecting trash
stuff from the doors.
You good?
Get in here.
Have a drink.
I'm 18.
Not tonight, you're
not. You're 21.
One and done's not
gonna hurt anybody.
So what do you tell Lawrence
when you're gone for
an hour at a time?
I tell him I'm doing my job.
There's no cameras in the room.
Not yet, anyway.
I wouldn't put it
past him either.
Right.
So, how are your parents?
- Fine, I guess. - [Liv] Yeah?
Yeah. My dad moved out
and got his own place.
Mom and I are actually gonna
go and stop by there on the way
to the dorms tomorrow.
That's right.
Tomorrow's the big day.
The big move!
Are you gonna get a new job?
No, I like this job.
Plus it's not that far away.
It's a 45 minute drive.
Yeah. But tips are good
enough for gas money.
Okay. If you say so.
What about Beta Beta Chi?
You gonna join?
I don't know.
My brother's a brother.
Well, a frat brother.
That makes you a guaranteed in.
If I can get through hell week.
Oh, come on.
Nobody ever does any of
that hazing stuff anymore.
Too many frats get
in trouble for that.
That's not what Daniel tells me.
Uh, well even so, you don't
have anything to worry about
if your brother, your actual
brother has your back.
Yeah, I guess.
( knocking)
[Liv] Yeah?
Really kid?
You wanna be drinking alcohol
while you're still
living with the rents?
[Liv] The rents? Who says that?
Ah, it's just one and done.
Uh-huh, well, you are cut off.
Really? My kid brother.
He's a college man now.
What's up? - Lawrence!
He won't let me go even
a few minutes early
so I can get to the
concert at a good time.
He brought up the usual stuff.
When do you clock out?
If that's when you leave,
that's what's on the schedule.
That's what I'm paying for!
Like anything is gonna happen
in the few moments
that I'm gone.
I swear I should just block
his number and his email
when I'm not working so
he can't get ahold of me.
Aha, that'll teach him a lesson.
- Not a bad idea.
- [Frances] Yeah.
Okay, screw it. I'm doing it.
You should too.
- Consider it done. - Hm-hmm.
Sam. - What?
If we're doing it,
you gotta do it too.
It's a protest.
[Liv] Sort of.
You know what, forget it.
It's not your problem.
No, no, it's not that.
It's just, I'll think about it.
Okay.
Yeah, I like it.
Yeah, me too.
It's comfortable.
You know, it's strange,
but lately I've been
thinking about holidays.
We all think about how things
go when things are different.
- Our usual traditions and...
- Yeah, I see it.
We can put the Christmas
tree right there.
- You see it too?
- Yeah. It's nice, dad.
Yeah. Probably
nowhere near as nice
as your dorm's gonna
look though, right?
[Sam] Yeah, probably not.
- You excited? - Yeah. Sure.
So what do you think
about this arrangement?
I'm fine.
Fine?
We're fine. Fine as wine.
In fact, we wouldn't be
finer if we were having lunch
in a diner in North Carolina.
What are you doing?
I'm solidifying how
very fine everything is.
So you gonna miss me?
- Nope. - No!
You gonna call every
once in a while? Text?
- [Sam] Nope. - No?
You gonna experiment
with dope and alcohol,
and sex and drugs
and rock and roll?
Mom, please!
Did you do this when Fran
and Dan flew the coop?
Well, seriously, you know,
you're going to college
and what is this
about flying the coop?
You're only going to be
40 minutes down the road.
- [Sam] 45. - Right.
And you're still working
at that horrible hotel
with your sister who has
nothing good to say about it.
It helps pass the time.
Plus I like Liv, so.
Oh, Liv, how's she doing?
She's fine.
There's that word again, fine.
Are you fine?
You know, maybe I'm not,
but it's okay to not be okay.
The biggest part of that
is how you deal with it,
and you have lots of
ways of dealing with it.
I really don't
know how you do it.
Yeah, I don't either.
(bells chiming)
[Val] Sam!
Hey! - Hey.
Weren't you supposed to
be wearing a sweater vest,
or pins or something to
show that you're a pledge?
Oh, you heard about that?
Yeah, I might've asked around.
No, we only have to
wear those robot clothes
for special occasions.
Ooh, robot clothes.
Okay. I like them.
I'm gonna keep that in mind.
Where are you headed to?
- Library.
Yeah. Cool. Me too.
Oh, that's why you just
came from the library.
Yep. (chuckles)
Hey, did you hear
that Beta Beta Chi has a
disabled person pledging?
Yeah. That's JC.
Hmm. Do you think that
they just want diversity
to the mix?
Maybe, but I'm not gonna ask.
I wonder how that's
gonna work, you know,
during hell week with a person
that can barely walk,
trouble walking.
Yeah. I don't know either,
but I can't imagine that
they're gonna hurt him.
They better not.
I don't take that too lightly.
Good.
Hey, did I hear
you're performing
in open mic night
downtown or something?
Yeah, it's a standup comedy.
You know, I do a
pretty cool monologue,
so I might as well
try funny ones too.
Yeah. All right.
Congratulations.
That's really cool.
- [Val] Thank you.
I'm excited.
Don't they card down there?
No, not if you're a student.
Why are you trying to
try it out yourself?
No, no, no, no.
I could not do that.
Not any sort of performing art.
Not yet, anyway.
Is that why you're undeclared?
Yeah. But did you hear
about the axe murderer
who was trying to get into
the computer system here?
[Val] Here? What?
Yeah. He couldn't hack it!
Ah! Okay.
Yep. I've heard worse.
- Yeah. Yeah, okay.
No, but seriously, you
should try writing sometimes,
you know, get some practice in,
you know, you don't have
to perform in that area.
That's true. And
it's probably safer.
Yeah.
Sam, you're in college now.
Why do you still
bother with this job?
I like it here.
Yeah, but it's a
further drive to school
and to the dorm, right?
I mean, doesn't
that aggravate you?
No. I like driving
Sometime I forget how
young you still are.
Soon enough, you're
gonna hate driving.
Are you wearing the
bracelet that I got you
for Secret Santa last year?
Thanks for noticing.
Yeah. Why are you wearing it
if you don't mind me asking?
Because it means
something to me.
Really? It does?
[Liv] It does. Really!
Hey, so guess what,
I am a pledge now.
Right on.
They start hell week?
Yeah, but nothing's
really happened yet.
Well, don't worry
too much about it.
It's just a little
welcoming present.
Yeah. Did Cameron go through it
when he went there?
Yeah, he did.
He would still talk
about it sometimes,
or he would still talk about it
if he and I were still talking,
which we're not doing
much of that anymore, so.
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean...
- You didn't know.
It's okay.
[Sam] I kind of liked him.
[Liv] Yeah, well. You
didn't know him like I do.
Don't tell me, you guys
are talking about Cameron.
Yep. That guy.
Yeah, he's here.
What?
[Frances] He's in the lobby.
Shit!
He says he wants to
have a quiet talk,
"calmly and rationally."
So it sounds like he
wants to patch things up.
Do you want me to
tell him to piss off?
No, I'll talk to him.
He's not dangerous,
he's just pathetic.
- [Frances] Good luck.
- [Liv] Thanks.
So, what's up little brother?
You know, just this.
- Oh, congrats, by the way.
- Thanks.
Hey, I know you're
worried about hell week.
So I guess I might
as well tell you
what details I've gotten
personally from Daniel
and people have
gotten hurt, okay?
And there were even ones
that backed out midweek
and yeah, there
are some stories.
I don't know if they're true,
even the ones that
Daniel says are true.
And speaking of Daniel, I mean
everybody loves him, right?
He's Mr. Cool for a few years.
So yeah, sure they're
going to humiliate you,
but they're not
gonna hurt you. Hmm?
How comforting.
In a couple years, none of
this is gonna matter, right?
None of this...
Who's gonna remember
all this bullshit,
like long after
college is gone, right?
I don't know.
It's the moment though.
Like high school
doesn't matter now,
but in the moment it
mattered a lot, you know?
That's true.
Look, whatever happens,
just try not to bottle it up
if you can help it.
Not like you do with everything.
(muffled arguing)
[Liv] Grow up!
(muffled arguing)
(cellphone ringing)
Hello?
[Brett] Good morning,
little pledge.
Ready for your first
dedication ceremony?
Oh, yes sir.
Brother Brett, sir.
[Brett] Hey, we're not
brothers yet, pledge.
It's Sir Brett always maggot.
Yes sir.
Yes. Yes, sir. Sir Brett.
Sir Brett, sir.
[Brett] That's better, kiss ass.
Now here's what you're gonna do.
(engine revving)
Hey, pledge!
That's not what
I told you to do.
Oh shit!
(keys jingling)
(alarm beeping)
No, no!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Shit! No okay.
(Sam panting)
Sam! Are you alright?
Yeah, I just.
Are you okay?
Yeah, they had me do
like 10 laps around
the student center,
so I'm little tired.
And you weren't naked?
- No. - Ugh!
[Daniel] Calm down.
You know they have
to push it a little.
I thought this hazing
bullshit was illegal.
[Daniel] Are you
gonna tell someone?
No.
[Daniel] Look, Sam,
you just gotta man up,
face it and get through it
'cause it's only gonna
get worse from here, okay?
Okay?
(eerie music)
- Sam! - What?
Warned you about this before.
Are you bored?
You're not working.
I'll go restock the
vending machine.
That's more like it.
Don't let your sister
be a negative influence.
(eerie music)
- Daniel? - Where is he?
He's working.
What are you doing?
It's hell week.
Well, he has, you know,
a job, life, income.
Have you ever heard of it?
- Screw you! - Leave him alone!
Do you think Brett's
gonna leave him alone?
Well, Brett's not here, is he?
Go away!
Do you think it's gonna
look good to the brothers
when I come back without him?
Okay. Well, you know
them, don't you?
Just tell them to back off!
Oh my God, I'm trying to
save him some dignity here!
Do you think it's gonna look
good if he look like a pussy
when he is so close to
fitting in with Betas?
- Don't call him that.
- You know what I mean.
Yeah, I do. And you should
give him a break, okay?
Because he's, I don't know,
he is not confrontational.
He's tender and nervous,
and he's scared.
He's afraid of you, Daniel!
Why does he gotta
be afraid of me?
I'm his brother.
Brother? Okay, well then
what are you doing here?
Well, why does he gotta do this?
Because that's just
the way he is, okay.
Okay, look, do you
remember last year
when he did that photography
gig at the wedding?
He came home early.
Yeah. What about it?
Okay, you weren't there
that weekend, but I was.
Oh my God, he was like
so excited about it.
You should have seen him.
He not only got to be creative,
but he got to get
paid for it too.
So he got hired to do this.
And pictures of the
reception, at the wedding,
the DJ hired him.
Who did, I don't
know, like weddings
and bar mitzvahs or whatever.
Anyway, he came home early.
Mom and dad were
fighting again, you know,
big surprise, whatever.
And I was there
trying to help out.
But he came home early
and I asked him why.
And he said it was
because the DJ told him
that he wasn't
charismatic enough,
and was making
people uncomfortable.
Right. Anyway, I found
him in the hallway later.
I guess he was going
to the bathroom.
Oh my God, I will never
forget the look on his face.
He was so devastated.
And he just...
It was weighing on him.
And I looked at his hands and
they were covered in blood.
He dug his fingernails
in his palms.
I don't know. He
was just so sad.
And then he begged me
not to tell mom and dad,
because he didn't
want them to think
that it was because of them.
Sam's always had trouble
expressing himself.
He's just afraid
of annoying people.
Do you get what I'm saying?
Yeah. Listen, I'll tell him
that he got called into work.
You know, they have to agree.
He has a life, you know?
- Yeah. Thank you.
(upbeat music)
What are you?
How...
Hi. It's good to see you too.
What are you doing here?
I just wanted to
take a little trip.
A little 45 minute
trip off campus?
Uh-huh. Yep. So this
is where you work?
Yeah. This is where...
I wanna show you something.
- Oh. - Follow me.
Oh, (indistinct).
Yeah. We'll like watch
some TV or take a nap,
or sometimes Liv will bring
some alcohol and drink a little.
Doesn't your boss notice?
No. There are a couple of rooms
that are outside of his notice.
Hmm.
But it gets really boring here.
Don't you have a break
room or something?
Yeah, but Lawrence is
watching those like a hawk.
- Whack.
- This is the only place
we can go to get away.
Who's your favorite
Mario character? Go-Kart?
- Waluigi. - Ah, typical.
Typical! Who's yours?
Don't say Toad.
No Princess Peach.
The golden one.
- I was a 100%. - Rose Gold.
Going to guess you were
gonna say Princess Peach.
- But you didn't though. - No.
- You guessed Toad.
- No, I didn't guess,
I said don't say Toad
'cause he's the worst.
- You basically guess Toad.
- You're right.
Yeah, you did.
Yeah, you did accept it.
That's the first
step to recovery.
Well, you know what?
Next time you're gonna
have to place Bowser.
No. Straight up no.
Okay. So you see
this part right here?
Behold this part.
- [Sam] Yes. - Okay, good.
I'm very happy
that you saw that.
You see this right here?
[Sam] The doorknob. Yes.
Now imagine somebody
has like a firm card,
and then they just swipe through
and then it goes
like, (mimics machine)
then they have like a long
hanger or something, a hook,
and it goes like here.
Oh, wait, here.
So assuming that
there's not a dead body.
Right, right, right,
right, right. - [Sam] Yes.
Okay. I shall show you my trick.
[Sam] Okay.
Where's the closet at?
So we take two of these
hangers as so, right?
Hook it onto there.
Make sure that it's
nice and tight.
- [Sam] Yeah.
- And then we do like this.
And one second.
No one can get through.
Nobody can stop us.
- Done. - All right.
So then there's a gap.
- [Val] Huh? - Can still see us.
That's when you go over there
and just start punching
'em through the door.
Punching 'em?
[Val] Yeah. You have to
punch them specifically.
And if you can get your
butt in there sideways,
- I'll just use the key like.
- Yeah. just shake them
a little bit here and there.
And that'll do.
New tricks learned.
You ruining my artwork.
And you're closed.
Yep. Another day, another,
well, actually there
weren't any dollars today.
I was with you all day.
Oh yeah. I kind of
picked up on that.
You needed a distraction.
Get that from my text?
Yeah. I pick up on
a lot of things.
Can't really convey tone
through text though, right?
For me, I can.
You know what I mean
whatever I sent it, right?
- Yeah. - Press one.
So far.
Oh, lights up.
Cool. Great.
Yeah, so far me too. - Cool.
So you missed class today?
We have homework. - I figured.
What did I miss?
So I was thinking we
can work on it together
at the library tomorrow.
Okay. Yeah. Four o'clock.
Yeah, four sounds good.
Okay, cool.
We just have to make sure
that we don't like copy
each other word for word.
Okay. Okay. Easy fix.
I have a plan. - Okay.
So I copy your work and then
you rephrase your own work.
And then no one's the wiser.
- Full proof. - Full proof.
And is that a deal?
- Deal. - Awesome.
- Hey mom. - [Mom] Hey sweetie.
How's it going?
Well, you know,
just another day.
How's it going with you?
[Mom] You know, same old thing.
Your dad won't stop coming
over except when he does.
And he won't stop texting,
except when he does.
He's sending me stuff.
He's saying it was a joke.
He says he wants to start over,
and then he says things
are fine the way they are
and back and forth and
on and on like that.
Ah!
Man. What do you
do when he does,
like, when he stops
or quits or whatever?
[Mom] Well, I just
try to remind myself
that I don't need him.
Right.
(birds chirping)
Hey pledge. Prepare to die.
Put that on.
Seriously?
You went against the
brothers, time to be punished.
Where's Daniel?
He's where I'll take you.
No, put on the blindfold. Now!
I am disappointed, Sam!
I really am.
Sam, I am. I am Sam.
I get you into the greatest
frat this campus has ever seen,
the least you could
do is prove yourself.
Do you think it
makes me look good
when you don't follow through?
When you don't prove
yourself worthy and brave?
You can talk kid. I'm
not gonna hurt you.
I'm giving you a chance here.
Anything to say
in your defense? No?
Alright. You see that leaves
us in a bit of a predicament.
How am I supposed to let you
into this exclusive group
of the most reliable
people you will ever meet
in your entire life?
Then you just agree
with everything.
Why are you so afraid to
stand up for yourself?
See, you got principles,
and I can respect that.
But the thing is,
you gotta make us part
of your principles.
And by that I mean you
can't go against our wishes
for the rest of the week.
I think that's fair.
Okay. I'm gonna give
you an opportunity
only because your
brother vouches for you.
You do this, you're one of us.
No one ever touches you again.
No one ever touches you
again, again, again.
You know, that reminds me.
What the fuck are
you doing, Brett?
Just one little punishment.
That's all.
- You don't have to do this.
What kind of example would
it set for the others
if I don't, I'm fair.
Fine. Okay. Just
this one time. Okay.
Hello, JC.
- Hello. - Stand here!
Face your fellow pledge.
Hi.
All right.
Now for starters, slap
him across the face.
Now tell him he's
not good enough.
You're not good enough.
Tell him to apologize.
Apologize.
I am sorry.
Oh, tell him to mean it.
- Mean it. - I'm tired.
I mean, I'm sorry.
Tell him that's too
bad and hit him again.
That's too bad.
Who the hell taught
you how to slap?
What is this
choreography for a play?
Hit him for real.
Harder. Harder!
I'm sorry.
Hey, I didn't tell
you to apologize!
This is like Simon says, right?
Now, tell him he
is not good enough.
You're not good enough!
Tell him he's lucky to be here.
You're lucky to be here.
Hit him again.
Now tell him, he's not
charismatic enough.
- You're not charismatic.
- That's enough.
Hey JC, get outta here.
Take him home.
What are you doing?
We're not done yet.
- Yeah, we are.
I'm taking my brother back.
You're not taking
anyone anywhere!
We agreed. - You're done.
- Whatever pussy.
- Oh, what did you just say
to me?
I said, you're a pussy!
Shit! I said that's
enough, Brett.
Okay, JC.
[Sam] Are you okay?
Yeah, that's right.
You said you weren't
gonna touch him.
He's a pledge too, isn't he?
Is that part of your principles?
(engine revving)
Oh hell yeah.
(Cameron screaming)
- Cameron? - Hey, Daniel.
What's up my dude?
Someone moving in?
No. Did you not hear?
What the hell
curled up your ass?
Hear what?
Dude, the alum party's
been called off.
Tell me you're
fucking kidding me!
- No, dude, it's over. - Fuck!
Yeah. No, the frats
been suspended.
Somebody leaked a video
of of one of our hazings
to the dean. - Of course.
It got shut down.
- Of course they fucking did.
- Yeah.
So what?
That's it? Just suspended.
No judge, no jury,
just executioner.
- Yeah, that's it, man.
Jesus fucking Christ!
And it's hell week too, right?
Hmm-hmm.
Fuck! So what?
Dude, this house,
we fucking built it.
Well not you, but like me
and your fucking family.
The shit that I did
here, 20% of that shit.
Yeah, you remember.
You were fucking here.
We did that shit to you.
Damn man! All of it.
It just makes you stronger.
These fucking pansy
pussy fucking kids, man!
They're never gonna
know what it's worth.
You good.
Fuck no, I'm not good!
Get my shit!
Fuck outta here!
I got shit to do!
Why did I even come here.
You guys fucking suck.
See ya.
[Cameron] Pansy ass.
(muffled shouting)
- [Liv] Cameron.
- No, listen, Liv,
I need you to hear me!
I need you to really hear me.
You have no idea what
I've been through today.
I came here,
everything that I knew,
everything that I
loved is falling apart.
You're gone, this is gone.
If you are the last thing to
leave my life, I don't know
what the hell else I'm
supposed to be holding onto.
There is nothing left for me!
Do you understand that?
You are it!
I don't know if any of
this makes sense to you,
- but I have to do something.
- [Liv] Cameron,
you're not dying!
- With my fucking life!
[Liv] There's more
fish in the sea.
So please, I've asked you
nicely, leave me alone.
I've set boundaries with you
and I expressed them
many, many times.
And I don't know what
it's gonna take for you
to respect those boundaries.
Are you drinking again?
Why do you fucking care?
Yeah, I'm drinking again.
[Liv] Cameron, it's not my job
to help you anymore. Goodbye.
(console banging)
Okay, so I was looking
at this one too.
How about this one?
- Okay, sure. - Cool.
And then maybe if we
find like a comedy,
you know, something that
can give us some inspiration
for the standup.
What are you saying?
Steal some material
from that movie
for my own act?
No, no. I just...
I was just trying to help.
I know what you mean and no,
it doesn't have to be funny,
but story-driven though.
- Okay. - Mandatory.
Then how about a chick flick?
Oh, yes. Chick flick.
All that drama. Right?
So you want drama, huh?
- Sure. - Okay.
Like chick flick, drama
relationship type of drama.
Maybe somebody likes the
other person's type of drama.
Doesn't want them to
know type of drama.
- [Sam] Okay.
- Or ruin anything.
Like maybe perhaps there's
like this kindhearted,
sweet, somewhat tall girl, cool.
Some people might say.
I don't know, she likes this guy
and they're always hanging out,
and sometimes she might
interrupt him at his job,
maybe at a hotel or something.
Oh, okay. Go on.
Yeah. And like, she likes him.
She doesn't wanna ruin anything,
and she doesn't wanna
ruin the dynamic
or anything like that.
She's not quite sure, you know?
I mean, why wouldn't
he like her, right?
Yeah. Why wouldn't he?
Yeah. So, I don't know.
I'm just gonna stop
beating around the bush
if you don't mind.
You know who I'm
talking about, right?
Yeah. I think I might know.
Yeah. Because I'm so subtle
about these things. - Obviously.
Yeah. I mean, that's the thing.
So it's just...
Okay, whenever I hang around
you, I feel less homesick
and I really like you,
but I just don't know
if you like me too.
Well, I just don't wanna
ruin anything, you know?
Yeah. I worry about
that too sometimes.
- About what? - What?
That's the other thing.
You're so awkward
and adorably shy.
It's a nice change
of pace for sure.
- Really? - Yeah, really.
Study room's open.
[Val] So it seems.
- You wanna study? - Yes.
(door banging)
[Sam] Hey sis.
Hey, what's up?
Nothing.
What? What's going on?
Nothing. I dunno what
you're talking about.
Did you get laid?
No, we just kissed.
- And then? With whom?
- I'm not gonna tell you.
- Oh, well you should.
- I'm your guardian angel.
Yeah, later. Bye.
I'ma put this on
Facebook. Come back.
(Sam panting)
Listen, we're gonna
be closed a while.
I called the police.
She was murdered in the
room she was sleeping in.
Cameron, her ex-husband,
came in and...
I don't know why.
I don't know anything else,
but we called the police,
and they should be here.
(gentle music)
(Cameron sobbing)
When you make a pledge, that
pledge becomes your life!
It doesn't matter if
the door's closed,
the pledge goes on.
The pledge fucking goes on!
You and I stood in
front of our families,
our friends, in front of God!
And you told me you loved me!
You made a pledge.
What good is a fucking pledge
if you don't make it...
if you don't make it in blood?
(gunshot firing)
Sam. Sam, look at me.
You can only...
You really have to let this out!
You can only hold
this in for so long.
You could cry, you can scream,
you can run out in the woods
and punch trees as
many times as you want.
But you cannot keep
all of this bottled up.
Honey, it's not good for you.
This reticent thing, you can
only play that part for so long
before it takes you over.
Sweetheart, you can even
tell me to go to hell
if that helps.
(Sam sobbing)
I can't do it.
I can't say anything.
I'm scared because if I...
What am I saying?
I'm letting it get to
me and I can't take it.
I just...
I don't know what to do,
and it makes me so confused
and I get more confused
as soon as I try
to say anything.
I don't know what to do
when I feel so much
all at the same time.
And I'm afraid that
if I say something
that it's gonna
make it even worse,
especially for the
people that I love.
So just say something stupid.
At least that's how I
know that you're human
and you can...
That you feel.
I want you to
listen to me first,
and then you can say
what you have to say.
If you keep doing this, you're
going to end up hurting mom,
and me and my
brother and sister.
And it's probably
going to hurt you too.
You have to choose.
You can't have both.
What are you looking for?
I don't know.
I guess we're just looking.
So would it help if
you talked about her?
You know.
I don't know. Maybe.
Well, who is she to you?
I think I loved her.
Oh, I don't know.
She was a friend of the family,
and I definitely had
a big crush on her.
Like a big time crush.
I had it bad.
[Val] So you took
the job for her?
No, I think that...
She got me the job,
but she was just
trying to help me out.
Like, so that I
would have something
to go to after high school.
Plus it beat working in
a chicken restaurant.
Are you talking about Chicken
Express on College Avenue?
Yes. How did you know?
Believe it or not,
a lot of high school kids
go to College Avenue.
Okay. Yeah.
Well, can I see your act?
I guess, why not.
So, I wouldn't say that
it's funny or anything,
but I thought it was, you
know, comical in a way.
So there's like 70
kids in our life group,
kids church, you know.
While the whole
church is going on,
70 kids just run amuck.
It's pure chaos, right?
So I decided, hey, this
will be a good deal for me
to help out these kids.
I can take this.
This kid comes up
to me and he says
with the purest eyes ever,
he goes like, ma'am,
can I get some tea?
I'm like, hold up kiddo,
I'll get you some tea.
We'll go get some tea,
like right after we
start dancing, okay kid?
He was like, okay.
And he puts his hand behind
his back and he walks over,
waits until he started dancing.
And then like he leaves
out with another person.
I'm like, cool, cool.
He is getting his
tea. He's all good.
He didn't need me.
And so the next scene, I'm like
tussling with these two kids
because they're like fighting.
I said, guys, guys, seriously,
I know you guys love
each other so much,
but you gotta stop
touching each other.
And one of them goes
like, ew, I'm not GAY.
And he says it just like that.
And then I said, oh, how
do you know that word?
And then the other kid goes
like, yeah, I'm not GAY.
And then the other
kid goes like,
you don't even know
what that spells.
And he is like, no.
(Sam laughing)
So they start
tussling again, right?
I'm like, guys,
stop it. Stop it.
But in the midst of
it, I smell something,
chocolate, no.
The kid, the same
kid with the big eyes
that looked up at me
and asked for tea,
he's chugging down coffee.
No.
- Right in front of me.
- Oh my gosh.
While these kids are tussling,
so I'm like in the middle,
it was like in slow motion.
I was like, and this
kid, he goes like,
and lifts up that one eyebrow.
He did it on purpose.
Listen you little.
And so I was just
like, what the heck?
Turns out that kid was
like the ringleader
of the whole chaos.
I'm gonna tell you
that, it happened.
There's like, okay,
while we were supposed
to be sitting down watching
Jesus, JC up on the screen,
this kid's making other
kids run around everywhere.
Nobody learned a
lesson that day, oh no.
Nobody learned anything.
There's a rock climbing
place up there.
These kids are
falling off of it.
And then there's
other kids tripping
on other kids,
beating up other kids.
I'm like, I can't do this.
And the little grandpa over
here with his coffee just.
No, he's not even
sipping it like this.
He's looking at...
He pace back and forth
when he did it too.
He was like.
- Oh, that's so funny.
And so I'm like, I'm
on the ground like this
and like tussling with the kids
and so I have to look up at him.
And then he goes like.
[Sam] Down at you
with the coffee.
And he goes like,
with the eyebrows.
I couldn't believe that.
- He planned the whole thing.
- He did.
So, whoa. And he asked for tea.
Every time that
he asked for tea,
I go like, kid.
- [Sam] Don't test me.
Yeah. I was like,
we are not going to get coffee.
It's a no!
(indistinct).
(Sam clapping)
[Val] Thank you, I tried.
It snaps, it snaps.
- Am I interrupting something?
- Just a study session.
Very funny. Good to see
you again, shithead.
Because I've meaning to tell you
how I feel about
this whole thing.
Don't think I'm gonna
hold back anymore
on account of your brother.
You wouldn't have lasted a day.
Hey, what did I tell you, Brett?
What are you doing here?
There's more to life than
just the frat, you know?
What are you doing here?
You stalking my brother?
You gonna tell him something
he already thinks about himself?
Or you gonna have some
thoughts of your own this time?
Fine. I'm leaving.
Hey Brett, one more
thing. It was me.
You what?
You know what.
What the hell man, why?
We're brothers.
- Yeah. And we messed up.
And not just now.
This is what we get.
This is what we get!
Who the hell died
and made you Gandhi?
I knew something was
off about you lately.
You go join the
pussy pledges next?
I hear the bitch has
a mouth for pleasure.
[Sam] Alright, that's enough!
What?
I said that's enough!
You think just because
there's no fraternity anymore,
you're not still a pledge?
Yeah. You know what, I
feel sorry for you Brett,
because you spent your
entire college career
thinking you a
part of something,
that turned out to be bullshit.
I'm just glad I figured it out
while I'm still a freshman.
Go ahead. Leave!
And remember when you graduate,
you're gonna feel
so lonely. Leave!
[Daniel] Damn, well that's
how you would've gotten in!
[Lawrence] Hey, if
I've told you once,
told you a hundred times,
you gotta answer my calls
and text in case
something comes up
and I need you to come in.
Oh. Yeah, that's gonna be a
little difficult, Lawrence.
[Lawrence] Why? Tell me why.
Pretend I'm stupid. Tell me why!
You have to pretend.
You really want to know?
[Lawrence] Yeah, I want to know.
Yeah, I blocked your number.
Why? Why would you do that?
Because you were being too
clingy in my off hours.
And I keep telling you
that when I'm on the clock,
I put up with your shit.
When I'm off the clock, I
don't answer to you, okay?
Now if you'll move along,
I have some work to do.
If you keep talking
to me like this,
you're not gonna
work here anymore.
(indistinct muffled talking)
God. Oh, and don't call me.
Oh wait, you can't.
Hey Sam, I need you
to run a message
by your sister for me.
Hey, Sam! Sam!
I don't know.
I'll probably get
a work study job.
Something on campus, that'll
save me some gas money.
Hmm. Look at you.
Standing up to people
left and right.
This is only the beginning.
What does that even mean?
Well, this world is
full of a lot of people
that need to be stood up to and
I think that's why I'm here.
Plus no one has their
best college experience
their first semester.
You wanna bet.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)
(no audio)
(Cameron panting)
(Cameron sniffling)
(wind rustling)
(birds chirping)
(bright music)
(wind rustling)
(feet shuffling)
Hey Sam.
Hi, Liv.
What are you doing?
Just collecting trash
stuff from the doors.
You good?
Get in here.
Have a drink.
I'm 18.
Not tonight, you're
not. You're 21.
One and done's not
gonna hurt anybody.
So what do you tell Lawrence
when you're gone for
an hour at a time?
I tell him I'm doing my job.
There's no cameras in the room.
Not yet, anyway.
I wouldn't put it
past him either.
Right.
So, how are your parents?
- Fine, I guess. - [Liv] Yeah?
Yeah. My dad moved out
and got his own place.
Mom and I are actually gonna
go and stop by there on the way
to the dorms tomorrow.
That's right.
Tomorrow's the big day.
The big move!
Are you gonna get a new job?
No, I like this job.
Plus it's not that far away.
It's a 45 minute drive.
Yeah. But tips are good
enough for gas money.
Okay. If you say so.
What about Beta Beta Chi?
You gonna join?
I don't know.
My brother's a brother.
Well, a frat brother.
That makes you a guaranteed in.
If I can get through hell week.
Oh, come on.
Nobody ever does any of
that hazing stuff anymore.
Too many frats get
in trouble for that.
That's not what Daniel tells me.
Uh, well even so, you don't
have anything to worry about
if your brother, your actual
brother has your back.
Yeah, I guess.
( knocking)
[Liv] Yeah?
Really kid?
You wanna be drinking alcohol
while you're still
living with the rents?
[Liv] The rents? Who says that?
Ah, it's just one and done.
Uh-huh, well, you are cut off.
Really? My kid brother.
He's a college man now.
What's up? - Lawrence!
He won't let me go even
a few minutes early
so I can get to the
concert at a good time.
He brought up the usual stuff.
When do you clock out?
If that's when you leave,
that's what's on the schedule.
That's what I'm paying for!
Like anything is gonna happen
in the few moments
that I'm gone.
I swear I should just block
his number and his email
when I'm not working so
he can't get ahold of me.
Aha, that'll teach him a lesson.
- Not a bad idea.
- [Frances] Yeah.
Okay, screw it. I'm doing it.
You should too.
- Consider it done. - Hm-hmm.
Sam. - What?
If we're doing it,
you gotta do it too.
It's a protest.
[Liv] Sort of.
You know what, forget it.
It's not your problem.
No, no, it's not that.
It's just, I'll think about it.
Okay.
Yeah, I like it.
Yeah, me too.
It's comfortable.
You know, it's strange,
but lately I've been
thinking about holidays.
We all think about how things
go when things are different.
- Our usual traditions and...
- Yeah, I see it.
We can put the Christmas
tree right there.
- You see it too?
- Yeah. It's nice, dad.
Yeah. Probably
nowhere near as nice
as your dorm's gonna
look though, right?
[Sam] Yeah, probably not.
- You excited? - Yeah. Sure.
So what do you think
about this arrangement?
I'm fine.
Fine?
We're fine. Fine as wine.
In fact, we wouldn't be
finer if we were having lunch
in a diner in North Carolina.
What are you doing?
I'm solidifying how
very fine everything is.
So you gonna miss me?
- Nope. - No!
You gonna call every
once in a while? Text?
- [Sam] Nope. - No?
You gonna experiment
with dope and alcohol,
and sex and drugs
and rock and roll?
Mom, please!
Did you do this when Fran
and Dan flew the coop?
Well, seriously, you know,
you're going to college
and what is this
about flying the coop?
You're only going to be
40 minutes down the road.
- [Sam] 45. - Right.
And you're still working
at that horrible hotel
with your sister who has
nothing good to say about it.
It helps pass the time.
Plus I like Liv, so.
Oh, Liv, how's she doing?
She's fine.
There's that word again, fine.
Are you fine?
You know, maybe I'm not,
but it's okay to not be okay.
The biggest part of that
is how you deal with it,
and you have lots of
ways of dealing with it.
I really don't
know how you do it.
Yeah, I don't either.
(bells chiming)
[Val] Sam!
Hey! - Hey.
Weren't you supposed to
be wearing a sweater vest,
or pins or something to
show that you're a pledge?
Oh, you heard about that?
Yeah, I might've asked around.
No, we only have to
wear those robot clothes
for special occasions.
Ooh, robot clothes.
Okay. I like them.
I'm gonna keep that in mind.
Where are you headed to?
- Library.
Yeah. Cool. Me too.
Oh, that's why you just
came from the library.
Yep. (chuckles)
Hey, did you hear
that Beta Beta Chi has a
disabled person pledging?
Yeah. That's JC.
Hmm. Do you think that
they just want diversity
to the mix?
Maybe, but I'm not gonna ask.
I wonder how that's
gonna work, you know,
during hell week with a person
that can barely walk,
trouble walking.
Yeah. I don't know either,
but I can't imagine that
they're gonna hurt him.
They better not.
I don't take that too lightly.
Good.
Hey, did I hear
you're performing
in open mic night
downtown or something?
Yeah, it's a standup comedy.
You know, I do a
pretty cool monologue,
so I might as well
try funny ones too.
Yeah. All right.
Congratulations.
That's really cool.
- [Val] Thank you.
I'm excited.
Don't they card down there?
No, not if you're a student.
Why are you trying to
try it out yourself?
No, no, no, no.
I could not do that.
Not any sort of performing art.
Not yet, anyway.
Is that why you're undeclared?
Yeah. But did you hear
about the axe murderer
who was trying to get into
the computer system here?
[Val] Here? What?
Yeah. He couldn't hack it!
Ah! Okay.
Yep. I've heard worse.
- Yeah. Yeah, okay.
No, but seriously, you
should try writing sometimes,
you know, get some practice in,
you know, you don't have
to perform in that area.
That's true. And
it's probably safer.
Yeah.
Sam, you're in college now.
Why do you still
bother with this job?
I like it here.
Yeah, but it's a
further drive to school
and to the dorm, right?
I mean, doesn't
that aggravate you?
No. I like driving
Sometime I forget how
young you still are.
Soon enough, you're
gonna hate driving.
Are you wearing the
bracelet that I got you
for Secret Santa last year?
Thanks for noticing.
Yeah. Why are you wearing it
if you don't mind me asking?
Because it means
something to me.
Really? It does?
[Liv] It does. Really!
Hey, so guess what,
I am a pledge now.
Right on.
They start hell week?
Yeah, but nothing's
really happened yet.
Well, don't worry
too much about it.
It's just a little
welcoming present.
Yeah. Did Cameron go through it
when he went there?
Yeah, he did.
He would still talk
about it sometimes,
or he would still talk about it
if he and I were still talking,
which we're not doing
much of that anymore, so.
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean...
- You didn't know.
It's okay.
[Sam] I kind of liked him.
[Liv] Yeah, well. You
didn't know him like I do.
Don't tell me, you guys
are talking about Cameron.
Yep. That guy.
Yeah, he's here.
What?
[Frances] He's in the lobby.
Shit!
He says he wants to
have a quiet talk,
"calmly and rationally."
So it sounds like he
wants to patch things up.
Do you want me to
tell him to piss off?
No, I'll talk to him.
He's not dangerous,
he's just pathetic.
- [Frances] Good luck.
- [Liv] Thanks.
So, what's up little brother?
You know, just this.
- Oh, congrats, by the way.
- Thanks.
Hey, I know you're
worried about hell week.
So I guess I might
as well tell you
what details I've gotten
personally from Daniel
and people have
gotten hurt, okay?
And there were even ones
that backed out midweek
and yeah, there
are some stories.
I don't know if they're true,
even the ones that
Daniel says are true.
And speaking of Daniel, I mean
everybody loves him, right?
He's Mr. Cool for a few years.
So yeah, sure they're
going to humiliate you,
but they're not
gonna hurt you. Hmm?
How comforting.
In a couple years, none of
this is gonna matter, right?
None of this...
Who's gonna remember
all this bullshit,
like long after
college is gone, right?
I don't know.
It's the moment though.
Like high school
doesn't matter now,
but in the moment it
mattered a lot, you know?
That's true.
Look, whatever happens,
just try not to bottle it up
if you can help it.
Not like you do with everything.
(muffled arguing)
[Liv] Grow up!
(muffled arguing)
(cellphone ringing)
Hello?
[Brett] Good morning,
little pledge.
Ready for your first
dedication ceremony?
Oh, yes sir.
Brother Brett, sir.
[Brett] Hey, we're not
brothers yet, pledge.
It's Sir Brett always maggot.
Yes sir.
Yes. Yes, sir. Sir Brett.
Sir Brett, sir.
[Brett] That's better, kiss ass.
Now here's what you're gonna do.
(engine revving)
Hey, pledge!
That's not what
I told you to do.
Oh shit!
(keys jingling)
(alarm beeping)
No, no!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Shit! No okay.
(Sam panting)
Sam! Are you alright?
Yeah, I just.
Are you okay?
Yeah, they had me do
like 10 laps around
the student center,
so I'm little tired.
And you weren't naked?
- No. - Ugh!
[Daniel] Calm down.
You know they have
to push it a little.
I thought this hazing
bullshit was illegal.
[Daniel] Are you
gonna tell someone?
No.
[Daniel] Look, Sam,
you just gotta man up,
face it and get through it
'cause it's only gonna
get worse from here, okay?
Okay?
(eerie music)
- Sam! - What?
Warned you about this before.
Are you bored?
You're not working.
I'll go restock the
vending machine.
That's more like it.
Don't let your sister
be a negative influence.
(eerie music)
- Daniel? - Where is he?
He's working.
What are you doing?
It's hell week.
Well, he has, you know,
a job, life, income.
Have you ever heard of it?
- Screw you! - Leave him alone!
Do you think Brett's
gonna leave him alone?
Well, Brett's not here, is he?
Go away!
Do you think it's gonna
look good to the brothers
when I come back without him?
Okay. Well, you know
them, don't you?
Just tell them to back off!
Oh my God, I'm trying to
save him some dignity here!
Do you think it's gonna look
good if he look like a pussy
when he is so close to
fitting in with Betas?
- Don't call him that.
- You know what I mean.
Yeah, I do. And you should
give him a break, okay?
Because he's, I don't know,
he is not confrontational.
He's tender and nervous,
and he's scared.
He's afraid of you, Daniel!
Why does he gotta
be afraid of me?
I'm his brother.
Brother? Okay, well then
what are you doing here?
Well, why does he gotta do this?
Because that's just
the way he is, okay.
Okay, look, do you
remember last year
when he did that photography
gig at the wedding?
He came home early.
Yeah. What about it?
Okay, you weren't there
that weekend, but I was.
Oh my God, he was like
so excited about it.
You should have seen him.
He not only got to be creative,
but he got to get
paid for it too.
So he got hired to do this.
And pictures of the
reception, at the wedding,
the DJ hired him.
Who did, I don't
know, like weddings
and bar mitzvahs or whatever.
Anyway, he came home early.
Mom and dad were
fighting again, you know,
big surprise, whatever.
And I was there
trying to help out.
But he came home early
and I asked him why.
And he said it was
because the DJ told him
that he wasn't
charismatic enough,
and was making
people uncomfortable.
Right. Anyway, I found
him in the hallway later.
I guess he was going
to the bathroom.
Oh my God, I will never
forget the look on his face.
He was so devastated.
And he just...
It was weighing on him.
And I looked at his hands and
they were covered in blood.
He dug his fingernails
in his palms.
I don't know. He
was just so sad.
And then he begged me
not to tell mom and dad,
because he didn't
want them to think
that it was because of them.
Sam's always had trouble
expressing himself.
He's just afraid
of annoying people.
Do you get what I'm saying?
Yeah. Listen, I'll tell him
that he got called into work.
You know, they have to agree.
He has a life, you know?
- Yeah. Thank you.
(upbeat music)
What are you?
How...
Hi. It's good to see you too.
What are you doing here?
I just wanted to
take a little trip.
A little 45 minute
trip off campus?
Uh-huh. Yep. So this
is where you work?
Yeah. This is where...
I wanna show you something.
- Oh. - Follow me.
Oh, (indistinct).
Yeah. We'll like watch
some TV or take a nap,
or sometimes Liv will bring
some alcohol and drink a little.
Doesn't your boss notice?
No. There are a couple of rooms
that are outside of his notice.
Hmm.
But it gets really boring here.
Don't you have a break
room or something?
Yeah, but Lawrence is
watching those like a hawk.
- Whack.
- This is the only place
we can go to get away.
Who's your favorite
Mario character? Go-Kart?
- Waluigi. - Ah, typical.
Typical! Who's yours?
Don't say Toad.
No Princess Peach.
The golden one.
- I was a 100%. - Rose Gold.
Going to guess you were
gonna say Princess Peach.
- But you didn't though. - No.
- You guessed Toad.
- No, I didn't guess,
I said don't say Toad
'cause he's the worst.
- You basically guess Toad.
- You're right.
Yeah, you did.
Yeah, you did accept it.
That's the first
step to recovery.
Well, you know what?
Next time you're gonna
have to place Bowser.
No. Straight up no.
Okay. So you see
this part right here?
Behold this part.
- [Sam] Yes. - Okay, good.
I'm very happy
that you saw that.
You see this right here?
[Sam] The doorknob. Yes.
Now imagine somebody
has like a firm card,
and then they just swipe through
and then it goes
like, (mimics machine)
then they have like a long
hanger or something, a hook,
and it goes like here.
Oh, wait, here.
So assuming that
there's not a dead body.
Right, right, right,
right, right. - [Sam] Yes.
Okay. I shall show you my trick.
[Sam] Okay.
Where's the closet at?
So we take two of these
hangers as so, right?
Hook it onto there.
Make sure that it's
nice and tight.
- [Sam] Yeah.
- And then we do like this.
And one second.
No one can get through.
Nobody can stop us.
- Done. - All right.
So then there's a gap.
- [Val] Huh? - Can still see us.
That's when you go over there
and just start punching
'em through the door.
Punching 'em?
[Val] Yeah. You have to
punch them specifically.
And if you can get your
butt in there sideways,
- I'll just use the key like.
- Yeah. just shake them
a little bit here and there.
And that'll do.
New tricks learned.
You ruining my artwork.
And you're closed.
Yep. Another day, another,
well, actually there
weren't any dollars today.
I was with you all day.
Oh yeah. I kind of
picked up on that.
You needed a distraction.
Get that from my text?
Yeah. I pick up on
a lot of things.
Can't really convey tone
through text though, right?
For me, I can.
You know what I mean
whatever I sent it, right?
- Yeah. - Press one.
So far.
Oh, lights up.
Cool. Great.
Yeah, so far me too. - Cool.
So you missed class today?
We have homework. - I figured.
What did I miss?
So I was thinking we
can work on it together
at the library tomorrow.
Okay. Yeah. Four o'clock.
Yeah, four sounds good.
Okay, cool.
We just have to make sure
that we don't like copy
each other word for word.
Okay. Okay. Easy fix.
I have a plan. - Okay.
So I copy your work and then
you rephrase your own work.
And then no one's the wiser.
- Full proof. - Full proof.
And is that a deal?
- Deal. - Awesome.
- Hey mom. - [Mom] Hey sweetie.
How's it going?
Well, you know,
just another day.
How's it going with you?
[Mom] You know, same old thing.
Your dad won't stop coming
over except when he does.
And he won't stop texting,
except when he does.
He's sending me stuff.
He's saying it was a joke.
He says he wants to start over,
and then he says things
are fine the way they are
and back and forth and
on and on like that.
Ah!
Man. What do you
do when he does,
like, when he stops
or quits or whatever?
[Mom] Well, I just
try to remind myself
that I don't need him.
Right.
(birds chirping)
Hey pledge. Prepare to die.
Put that on.
Seriously?
You went against the
brothers, time to be punished.
Where's Daniel?
He's where I'll take you.
No, put on the blindfold. Now!
I am disappointed, Sam!
I really am.
Sam, I am. I am Sam.
I get you into the greatest
frat this campus has ever seen,
the least you could
do is prove yourself.
Do you think it
makes me look good
when you don't follow through?
When you don't prove
yourself worthy and brave?
You can talk kid. I'm
not gonna hurt you.
I'm giving you a chance here.
Anything to say
in your defense? No?
Alright. You see that leaves
us in a bit of a predicament.
How am I supposed to let you
into this exclusive group
of the most reliable
people you will ever meet
in your entire life?
Then you just agree
with everything.
Why are you so afraid to
stand up for yourself?
See, you got principles,
and I can respect that.
But the thing is,
you gotta make us part
of your principles.
And by that I mean you
can't go against our wishes
for the rest of the week.
I think that's fair.
Okay. I'm gonna give
you an opportunity
only because your
brother vouches for you.
You do this, you're one of us.
No one ever touches you again.
No one ever touches you
again, again, again.
You know, that reminds me.
What the fuck are
you doing, Brett?
Just one little punishment.
That's all.
- You don't have to do this.
What kind of example would
it set for the others
if I don't, I'm fair.
Fine. Okay. Just
this one time. Okay.
Hello, JC.
- Hello. - Stand here!
Face your fellow pledge.
Hi.
All right.
Now for starters, slap
him across the face.
Now tell him he's
not good enough.
You're not good enough.
Tell him to apologize.
Apologize.
I am sorry.
Oh, tell him to mean it.
- Mean it. - I'm tired.
I mean, I'm sorry.
Tell him that's too
bad and hit him again.
That's too bad.
Who the hell taught
you how to slap?
What is this
choreography for a play?
Hit him for real.
Harder. Harder!
I'm sorry.
Hey, I didn't tell
you to apologize!
This is like Simon says, right?
Now, tell him he
is not good enough.
You're not good enough!
Tell him he's lucky to be here.
You're lucky to be here.
Hit him again.
Now tell him, he's not
charismatic enough.
- You're not charismatic.
- That's enough.
Hey JC, get outta here.
Take him home.
What are you doing?
We're not done yet.
- Yeah, we are.
I'm taking my brother back.
You're not taking
anyone anywhere!
We agreed. - You're done.
- Whatever pussy.
- Oh, what did you just say
to me?
I said, you're a pussy!
Shit! I said that's
enough, Brett.
Okay, JC.
[Sam] Are you okay?
Yeah, that's right.
You said you weren't
gonna touch him.
He's a pledge too, isn't he?
Is that part of your principles?
(engine revving)
Oh hell yeah.
(Cameron screaming)
- Cameron? - Hey, Daniel.
What's up my dude?
Someone moving in?
No. Did you not hear?
What the hell
curled up your ass?
Hear what?
Dude, the alum party's
been called off.
Tell me you're
fucking kidding me!
- No, dude, it's over. - Fuck!
Yeah. No, the frats
been suspended.
Somebody leaked a video
of of one of our hazings
to the dean. - Of course.
It got shut down.
- Of course they fucking did.
- Yeah.
So what?
That's it? Just suspended.
No judge, no jury,
just executioner.
- Yeah, that's it, man.
Jesus fucking Christ!
And it's hell week too, right?
Hmm-hmm.
Fuck! So what?
Dude, this house,
we fucking built it.
Well not you, but like me
and your fucking family.
The shit that I did
here, 20% of that shit.
Yeah, you remember.
You were fucking here.
We did that shit to you.
Damn man! All of it.
It just makes you stronger.
These fucking pansy
pussy fucking kids, man!
They're never gonna
know what it's worth.
You good.
Fuck no, I'm not good!
Get my shit!
Fuck outta here!
I got shit to do!
Why did I even come here.
You guys fucking suck.
See ya.
[Cameron] Pansy ass.
(muffled shouting)
- [Liv] Cameron.
- No, listen, Liv,
I need you to hear me!
I need you to really hear me.
You have no idea what
I've been through today.
I came here,
everything that I knew,
everything that I
loved is falling apart.
You're gone, this is gone.
If you are the last thing to
leave my life, I don't know
what the hell else I'm
supposed to be holding onto.
There is nothing left for me!
Do you understand that?
You are it!
I don't know if any of
this makes sense to you,
- but I have to do something.
- [Liv] Cameron,
you're not dying!
- With my fucking life!
[Liv] There's more
fish in the sea.
So please, I've asked you
nicely, leave me alone.
I've set boundaries with you
and I expressed them
many, many times.
And I don't know what
it's gonna take for you
to respect those boundaries.
Are you drinking again?
Why do you fucking care?
Yeah, I'm drinking again.
[Liv] Cameron, it's not my job
to help you anymore. Goodbye.
(console banging)
Okay, so I was looking
at this one too.
How about this one?
- Okay, sure. - Cool.
And then maybe if we
find like a comedy,
you know, something that
can give us some inspiration
for the standup.
What are you saying?
Steal some material
from that movie
for my own act?
No, no. I just...
I was just trying to help.
I know what you mean and no,
it doesn't have to be funny,
but story-driven though.
- Okay. - Mandatory.
Then how about a chick flick?
Oh, yes. Chick flick.
All that drama. Right?
So you want drama, huh?
- Sure. - Okay.
Like chick flick, drama
relationship type of drama.
Maybe somebody likes the
other person's type of drama.
Doesn't want them to
know type of drama.
- [Sam] Okay.
- Or ruin anything.
Like maybe perhaps there's
like this kindhearted,
sweet, somewhat tall girl, cool.
Some people might say.
I don't know, she likes this guy
and they're always hanging out,
and sometimes she might
interrupt him at his job,
maybe at a hotel or something.
Oh, okay. Go on.
Yeah. And like, she likes him.
She doesn't wanna ruin anything,
and she doesn't wanna
ruin the dynamic
or anything like that.
She's not quite sure, you know?
I mean, why wouldn't
he like her, right?
Yeah. Why wouldn't he?
Yeah. So, I don't know.
I'm just gonna stop
beating around the bush
if you don't mind.
You know who I'm
talking about, right?
Yeah. I think I might know.
Yeah. Because I'm so subtle
about these things. - Obviously.
Yeah. I mean, that's the thing.
So it's just...
Okay, whenever I hang around
you, I feel less homesick
and I really like you,
but I just don't know
if you like me too.
Well, I just don't wanna
ruin anything, you know?
Yeah. I worry about
that too sometimes.
- About what? - What?
That's the other thing.
You're so awkward
and adorably shy.
It's a nice change
of pace for sure.
- Really? - Yeah, really.
Study room's open.
[Val] So it seems.
- You wanna study? - Yes.
(door banging)
[Sam] Hey sis.
Hey, what's up?
Nothing.
What? What's going on?
Nothing. I dunno what
you're talking about.
Did you get laid?
No, we just kissed.
- And then? With whom?
- I'm not gonna tell you.
- Oh, well you should.
- I'm your guardian angel.
Yeah, later. Bye.
I'ma put this on
Facebook. Come back.
(Sam panting)
Listen, we're gonna
be closed a while.
I called the police.
She was murdered in the
room she was sleeping in.
Cameron, her ex-husband,
came in and...
I don't know why.
I don't know anything else,
but we called the police,
and they should be here.
(gentle music)
(Cameron sobbing)
When you make a pledge, that
pledge becomes your life!
It doesn't matter if
the door's closed,
the pledge goes on.
The pledge fucking goes on!
You and I stood in
front of our families,
our friends, in front of God!
And you told me you loved me!
You made a pledge.
What good is a fucking pledge
if you don't make it...
if you don't make it in blood?
(gunshot firing)
Sam. Sam, look at me.
You can only...
You really have to let this out!
You can only hold
this in for so long.
You could cry, you can scream,
you can run out in the woods
and punch trees as
many times as you want.
But you cannot keep
all of this bottled up.
Honey, it's not good for you.
This reticent thing, you can
only play that part for so long
before it takes you over.
Sweetheart, you can even
tell me to go to hell
if that helps.
(Sam sobbing)
I can't do it.
I can't say anything.
I'm scared because if I...
What am I saying?
I'm letting it get to
me and I can't take it.
I just...
I don't know what to do,
and it makes me so confused
and I get more confused
as soon as I try
to say anything.
I don't know what to do
when I feel so much
all at the same time.
And I'm afraid that
if I say something
that it's gonna
make it even worse,
especially for the
people that I love.
So just say something stupid.
At least that's how I
know that you're human
and you can...
That you feel.
I want you to
listen to me first,
and then you can say
what you have to say.
If you keep doing this, you're
going to end up hurting mom,
and me and my
brother and sister.
And it's probably
going to hurt you too.
You have to choose.
You can't have both.
What are you looking for?
I don't know.
I guess we're just looking.
So would it help if
you talked about her?
You know.
I don't know. Maybe.
Well, who is she to you?
I think I loved her.
Oh, I don't know.
She was a friend of the family,
and I definitely had
a big crush on her.
Like a big time crush.
I had it bad.
[Val] So you took
the job for her?
No, I think that...
She got me the job,
but she was just
trying to help me out.
Like, so that I
would have something
to go to after high school.
Plus it beat working in
a chicken restaurant.
Are you talking about Chicken
Express on College Avenue?
Yes. How did you know?
Believe it or not,
a lot of high school kids
go to College Avenue.
Okay. Yeah.
Well, can I see your act?
I guess, why not.
So, I wouldn't say that
it's funny or anything,
but I thought it was, you
know, comical in a way.
So there's like 70
kids in our life group,
kids church, you know.
While the whole
church is going on,
70 kids just run amuck.
It's pure chaos, right?
So I decided, hey, this
will be a good deal for me
to help out these kids.
I can take this.
This kid comes up
to me and he says
with the purest eyes ever,
he goes like, ma'am,
can I get some tea?
I'm like, hold up kiddo,
I'll get you some tea.
We'll go get some tea,
like right after we
start dancing, okay kid?
He was like, okay.
And he puts his hand behind
his back and he walks over,
waits until he started dancing.
And then like he leaves
out with another person.
I'm like, cool, cool.
He is getting his
tea. He's all good.
He didn't need me.
And so the next scene, I'm like
tussling with these two kids
because they're like fighting.
I said, guys, guys, seriously,
I know you guys love
each other so much,
but you gotta stop
touching each other.
And one of them goes
like, ew, I'm not GAY.
And he says it just like that.
And then I said, oh, how
do you know that word?
And then the other kid goes
like, yeah, I'm not GAY.
And then the other
kid goes like,
you don't even know
what that spells.
And he is like, no.
(Sam laughing)
So they start
tussling again, right?
I'm like, guys,
stop it. Stop it.
But in the midst of
it, I smell something,
chocolate, no.
The kid, the same
kid with the big eyes
that looked up at me
and asked for tea,
he's chugging down coffee.
No.
- Right in front of me.
- Oh my gosh.
While these kids are tussling,
so I'm like in the middle,
it was like in slow motion.
I was like, and this
kid, he goes like,
and lifts up that one eyebrow.
He did it on purpose.
Listen you little.
And so I was just
like, what the heck?
Turns out that kid was
like the ringleader
of the whole chaos.
I'm gonna tell you
that, it happened.
There's like, okay,
while we were supposed
to be sitting down watching
Jesus, JC up on the screen,
this kid's making other
kids run around everywhere.
Nobody learned a
lesson that day, oh no.
Nobody learned anything.
There's a rock climbing
place up there.
These kids are
falling off of it.
And then there's
other kids tripping
on other kids,
beating up other kids.
I'm like, I can't do this.
And the little grandpa over
here with his coffee just.
No, he's not even
sipping it like this.
He's looking at...
He pace back and forth
when he did it too.
He was like.
- Oh, that's so funny.
And so I'm like, I'm
on the ground like this
and like tussling with the kids
and so I have to look up at him.
And then he goes like.
[Sam] Down at you
with the coffee.
And he goes like,
with the eyebrows.
I couldn't believe that.
- He planned the whole thing.
- He did.
So, whoa. And he asked for tea.
Every time that
he asked for tea,
I go like, kid.
- [Sam] Don't test me.
Yeah. I was like,
we are not going to get coffee.
It's a no!
(indistinct).
(Sam clapping)
[Val] Thank you, I tried.
It snaps, it snaps.
- Am I interrupting something?
- Just a study session.
Very funny. Good to see
you again, shithead.
Because I've meaning to tell you
how I feel about
this whole thing.
Don't think I'm gonna
hold back anymore
on account of your brother.
You wouldn't have lasted a day.
Hey, what did I tell you, Brett?
What are you doing here?
There's more to life than
just the frat, you know?
What are you doing here?
You stalking my brother?
You gonna tell him something
he already thinks about himself?
Or you gonna have some
thoughts of your own this time?
Fine. I'm leaving.
Hey Brett, one more
thing. It was me.
You what?
You know what.
What the hell man, why?
We're brothers.
- Yeah. And we messed up.
And not just now.
This is what we get.
This is what we get!
Who the hell died
and made you Gandhi?
I knew something was
off about you lately.
You go join the
pussy pledges next?
I hear the bitch has
a mouth for pleasure.
[Sam] Alright, that's enough!
What?
I said that's enough!
You think just because
there's no fraternity anymore,
you're not still a pledge?
Yeah. You know what, I
feel sorry for you Brett,
because you spent your
entire college career
thinking you a
part of something,
that turned out to be bullshit.
I'm just glad I figured it out
while I'm still a freshman.
Go ahead. Leave!
And remember when you graduate,
you're gonna feel
so lonely. Leave!
[Daniel] Damn, well that's
how you would've gotten in!
[Lawrence] Hey, if
I've told you once,
told you a hundred times,
you gotta answer my calls
and text in case
something comes up
and I need you to come in.
Oh. Yeah, that's gonna be a
little difficult, Lawrence.
[Lawrence] Why? Tell me why.
Pretend I'm stupid. Tell me why!
You have to pretend.
You really want to know?
[Lawrence] Yeah, I want to know.
Yeah, I blocked your number.
Why? Why would you do that?
Because you were being too
clingy in my off hours.
And I keep telling you
that when I'm on the clock,
I put up with your shit.
When I'm off the clock, I
don't answer to you, okay?
Now if you'll move along,
I have some work to do.
If you keep talking
to me like this,
you're not gonna
work here anymore.
(indistinct muffled talking)
God. Oh, and don't call me.
Oh wait, you can't.
Hey Sam, I need you
to run a message
by your sister for me.
Hey, Sam! Sam!
I don't know.
I'll probably get
a work study job.
Something on campus, that'll
save me some gas money.
Hmm. Look at you.
Standing up to people
left and right.
This is only the beginning.
What does that even mean?
Well, this world is
full of a lot of people
that need to be stood up to and
I think that's why I'm here.
Plus no one has their
best college experience
their first semester.
You wanna bet.
(gentle music)
(gentle music continues)