Rey Tang
INT. MEADOW – AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)
KATZ (13, Male, African-American) taps out a beat with his hand, unconsciously. Nervously.
They’ve both been best friends since they were five. Both wear standard issue gray: jacket and trousers for Katz, and a plain skirt and shirt for Nat.
NAT (13, Female, Irish-American) sits beside Katz, looking at him expectantly.
NAT
Swear to me that you won’t tell anyone else. Not another living soul.
KATZ
(annoyed)
Yes. I swear. You’re scaring me, Nat.
NAT
Close your eyes.
Katz raises his shoulders, as if to say ?
Nonetheless, Nat continues to stare insistently.
Shaking his head, Katz resigns and closes his eyes. Nat sets something over his head. He cocks his head, confused.
He takes a peek and nearly loses it.
KATZ
Is that–?
She raises a finger to his lips, before gesturing again for him to close his eyes. With some difficulty, Katz relaxes, until all he can hear is his heart pumping blood.
A noise starts through the headphones, as if someone were scratching a wool jacket. Then, a couple of sounds, like the hollow ringing that remains when people blow into straws.
KATZ
What is this–?
Suddenly, these tones arrange themselves into an order – a kind of pattern makes the hair on Katz’ forearms stand.
Nat begins to smile, as she witnesses her friend listen to music for the first time.
JUMP CUT TO:
KATZ
Why did they ban these?
Nat shakes her head, equally confused, as Katz gently turns over the CASSETTE PLAYER over and over again in his fingers.
NAT
My Grandma says that they used to have it all the time before the Collective took over. They used to call it music.
KATZ
I’ve never heard anything quite like it before in my entire life.
Nat, with a mischievous smile, takes back the player.
NAT
Want me to play it again?
KATZ
What if we get caught?
NAT
What if we don’t?
After considering, Katz nods uneasily. The two of them then shuffle into more comfortable positions for the repeat.
We tilt up into the sky, away from the best friends.
KATZ (V.O.)
It’s been almost a month since then.
INT. BATHROOM – MORNING
It’s a dreary cold morning. Katz, now 14, spills some powder onto his fingers, and scrubs his teeth with it.
KATZ (V.O.)
Things have been pretty much the same.
INT. KITCHEN – MORNING
Katz and his mother SYL (40s, Female, African-American), munch on cereal in silence without making eye contact. Syl, instead, scrolls through her iPhone-like device, engrossed.
The apartment is decorated much like the food: tasteless and without substance.
KATZ
I’m going to school today.
Syl grunts non-commitedly in response.
INSERT: A sepia photo of a man in an army uniform, grinning at the camera. This is KATZ’S FATHER (40s, African-American).
KATZ (V.O.)
Mom still misses Dad a lot. She hasn’t been the same since he died. We don’t really talk anymore.
Katz gets up to put the dishes away. Mechanically, like a well-programmed machine, he gives Syl a perfunctory kiss before heading out the door.
INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM – MORNING
Katz wears the same blank expression. The teacher, MS. WILSON (25, Female, White), in a clean skirt, stands in the front.
MS. WILSON
It was they who first scorched the Earth. Razed our cities. The Committee had no choice but to act, and that meant containing the threat.
Behind, Katz hears his classmates snicker. At him. He pays them no mind, instead looking out the window.
KATZ (V.O.)
I haven’t been in class since they took you away. There were just too many things to remind me of you. I wonder where you are. Mostly, I just hope that you’re okay.
Absentmindedly, Katz taps out a beat with his finger nails on the bar behind the chair. Slowly, the tones created by the metal elongate, stretching into their own distinct notes.
MS. WILSON
Katz?
Katz, caught unaware, looks up at attention.
KATZ
Yes, ma’am?
MS. WILSON
I asked if you knew why we started banning the “non-essentials”.
KATZ
Cause the Committee doesn’t like fun?
Katz’s classmates snicker, gleeful over trouble.
MS. WILSON
What did you say?
Katz withdraws, self-conscious of the commotion he’s caused.
KATZ
(sighs)
Nothing. I’m sorry. I don’t know.
Katz’s classmates are ecstatic now, besides themselves with ooo’s and ahh’s. Ms. Wilson nods uneasily, before returning to her lecture. In the second-to-last row, SET (15, Male, Hispanic) cups his hands over his mouth and fake-coughs.
SET
Weirdo!
The rest of the class laughs. Katz lowers his head into his arms, and hides in the nook of his elbow.
INT. SCHOOL COURTYARD – AFTERNOON
Katz sits alone on a bench, eating a dry sandwich, thinking to himself. He gets weird looks, but mostly he’s left on his own. He recognizes a girl, JEN (15, female), passing by. They don’t make eye contact. Instead, he remembers–
INT. SCHOOL COURTYARD – AFTERNOON (FLASHBACK)
Katz and Nat sit on the ground, leaning against the brick wall near the trash can. Nat picks at her sandwich thoughtfully. Her eyes gleam, hungry for life.
NAT
Did you see Jen come in–?
KATZ
I know.
NAT
And the way she looked so–?
KATZ
(more emphatically) I know!
NAT
She’s gorgeous. Oh my God.
KATZ
(agreeing)
I. know.
Just then, both of them clam up as Jen passes by. As she leaves, they let out a collective breath.
KATZ & NAT
(in unison) Damn.
Nat shakes her head and goes back to her sandwich.
NAT
So how was your Summer?
KATZ
Okay. Did some jobs. Even worked as a runner. And you? How was your Summer?
NAT
Amazing. Grandma’s barn was so peaceful and quiet. I miss it.
Katz looks over covertly, before nodding. He smiles.
KATZ
Can we listen again later?
Nat grins, before nodding. Suddenly, both snap to attention, as the girl from before passes by again to discard trash.
NAT
Seriously. So unfair.
KATZ
I know!
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL COURTYARD – AFTERNOON
Katz, in the present, grins at the memory, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Set sits directly in front of Katz with his HENCHMAN (14, Male, White).
SET
So you’re back, huh?
HENCHMAN
Aw. Wittle Katz sitting awone?
Katz shrugs, not listening. By the door, Ms. Wilson stands guard. Set takes note, before leaning in with a sly grin.
SET
Must suck without having that other loser around, huh? I’d almost feel sorry for you.
Katz, although looking away from Set, can’t help but clench his fist. Still, his anger simmers quietly.
Set grins, secure in knowing that Katz won’t budge. Ms. Wilson notices what’s taking place, and walks over. Set then gets up, and playfully ruffles Katz’s hair.
SET
I’m just joking, of course. C’mon.
Set and his henchman leave. Ms. Wilson, shaking her head, turns back and stands down.
SET
(loudly)
My Dad told me that she got exactly what was coming to her. That that’s what happens to freaks.
Set turns around suddenly as Katz swings his fist into the right side of Set’s jaw. Immediately, Set crumples to the floor, and although his Henchman lands a blow, Katz is unfazed – too far gone in his own flurry of fists.
Suddenly, we hear a whistle blown, as Ms. Wilson and other teachers break them up. Katz is pulled away.
INT. SCHOOL OFFICE – AFTERNOON
Katz still pants heavily, but holds an ice pack to his face. The Ms. Wilson eyes him coolly with her arms crossed.
MS. WILSON
You know you’re facing suspension.
KATZ
Well, he started it. He’s had it in for me ever since–
MS. WILSON
–I don’t want to hear it. I’ll have to send this to the higher-ups, and you know that this will look bad for both of you.
(then, softly)
I want to help you, but you’re being reckless. What you said in class was extremely dangerous – under the Sedition Act, if anyone reported what you said, I could lose my job, and who knows what would happen to you. You get that, right?
Katz looks up defiantly – a bit of his smolder is gone.
KATZ
Can I go now?
Ms. Wilson sighs, and nods. Katz takes off.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Katz and Syl sit with plates in front of them, untouched.
KATZ
I got into a fist fight today.
Syl almost jumps, as if she didn’t know Katz was there, before turning her attention back to the phone.
SYL
(dazed)
Why would you do such a thing, dear?
KATZ
They insulted her, Ma.
Syl nods without actually listening. Katz lets out an exasperated sigh, before taking Syl’s phone.
SYL
What!? What is it?
KATZ
Could we please just talk?
Syl begrudgingly stabs at her cold dry noodles, annoyed. Katz takes a deep breath – this isn’t going as planned.
KATZ
I just can’t stop thinking about the last night I saw her.
(then, candidly)
I don’t know how to deal with this.
INT. MEADOW – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Lit by streetlight, Katz emerges from the clearing to the meadow. Nat immediately runs towards Katz, sobbing.
KATZ (V.O.)
I’d never seen her act that way before like that before.
SMASH CUT TO:
Nat and Katz sit. Nat cradles her knees to her chest.
NAT
My Dad sent me away because he thought that I could change, but, he found us. Jen and I. And now I don’t know what they’ll do. Katz, I’m scared.
SMASH CUT TO:
Nat leans on Katz’s shoulder, trying to take comfort from her friend. When Nat isn’t looking, Katz’s expression darkens.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Katz stares into his food.
KATZ
I haven’t stopped thinking about her since, just like I know that you haven’t stopped thinking about Dad.
Syl thinks deeply for a moment, before responding.
SYL
I forgot all that I thought I’d known because the pain was so bad.
Everything else became second string. (then, smiling)
But, then the Committee was there, promising a better life… and so I found something new to believe in.
Katz nods sullenly, absorbing the advice.
KATZ
(nodding)
Something new to believe in.
SYL
So that’s why I had to stop her, you see. She was a threat.
Katz freezes. Syl’s words hang in the air.
KATZ
Mom. What are you talking about?
SYL
You kept sneaking off, so I had no choice. I had to do it.
KATZ
(slowly realizing)
Oh my God. You turned her in.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Katz quickly kisses his mother, who’s absorbed in her phone.
KATZ (V.O.)
That night, when I went to go meet her, you decided to follow me.
As the screen door closes, Katz’s mother looks up from her phone and in Katz’s direction, suspicious.
EXT. MEADOW – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Standing behind a tree behind Katz and Nat in the clearing, Syl stands eavesdropping with her arms crossed.
KATZ (V.O.)
You overheard everything. You knew.
Syl brings up her phone, saddened.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Katz stares at Syl with steely resolve.
SYL
I had to do it. She was going to bring you down with her. I had to.
KATZ
No. You didn’t have to do that I don’t even know if she’s alive anymore! She was my best friend.
SYL
(not quite sure anymore)
It was for the good of the Collective.
Katz slams down his utensils, and storms out of the kitchen. Syl looks down at her food, deeply conflicted.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Katz gasps for breath as he sprints through the streets. EXT. NAT’S HOUSE DOORWAY – NIGHT
Hesitantly, Katz raises his hand to knock on the door. He shivers – his breath turns to mist in the cold air.
MAN (V.O.)
Go away.
KATZ
It’s me. Katz.
The door swivels open halfway. Standing in the doorway is MR. WALSH, a strong muscular bald man.
This is Nat’s father.
MR. WALSH
What are you doing here? Haven’t you done enough? Begone.
Mr. Walsh tries to swing the door shut.
KATZ
Wait!
Katz immediately sticks his foot out, wedging it between door and frame. He immediately winces, holding back tears.
KATZ
I just wanted to say I’m sorry.
Mr. Walsh re-opens the door again fully. For the first time, Katz notices how Mr. Walsh’s eyes are red and puffy.
MR. WALSH
Go home, boy.
KATZ
I didn’t know that that’s what happened. I didn’t realize that my Mom would go so far.
MR. WALSH
And yet, she did. She took away my daughter, who although flawed, was all I got in this world. You’ll never know how much I think about her every day.
KATZ
(after a long pause) She was my best friend.
Mr. Walsh eyes Katz warily, before shaking his head.
MR. WALSH
Wait here.
Mr. Walsh goes inside for a moment, leaving Katz to awkwardly shuffle on the doorstep. Finally, Mr. Walsh comes back, shoving the CASSETTE PLAYER into Katz’s hands.
MR. WALSH
She’d want you to have this.
(then, softly)
She really liked spending time with you.
Mr. Walsh softly closes the door. Katz looks down at the player, eyeing it warily.
INT. MEADOW – NIGHT
Katz sits at his usual spot, alone. The stars are out.
He can’t stop looking at the cassette player, turning it over and over with his hands. Suddenly, someone places their hand on Katz’s. He turns to look, shocked.
KATZ
Nat?
Nat looks back, gently smiling. She nods.
KATZ
I’m so sorry about what happened. If I knew I’d never let them take you away-
Nat places her finger over Katz’s lips, shaking her head. Katz looks at her helplessly.
KATZ
I miss you so much.
Nat nods with a knowing look.
She then, gently, raises Katz’s hands, pushing the cassette player closer to his chest.
When Katz looks over once more, he sees that Nat has disappeared without a trace. He sighs.
Katz places the headphones over his ears. His fingers gently press the PLAY button. The spindles of the tapes gradually spin into a steady rotation.
He leans back, letting the sweet melodies fill his ears. Slowly, he closes his eyes, and drifts into a sleepy smile, finally content.
THE END
Rey Tang is a Northwestern film student, aspiring to one day write for TV. She’s a junior, studying Radio Television and Film and Economics with a minor in Computer Science. Twitter: @ReyTang18
