Alarm clock sounds.

FADE IN:

INT.—BEDROOM—DAY

JIM reaches over, hits the top of his alarm, it silences, upbeat instrumental music begins. Gets out of bed, wearing boxers only, stretches, grabs towel, walks out of room to bathroom. Turns shower on, brushes teeth, gets in shower.

CUT TO:

INT.—BEDROOM—DAY

Jim finishes dressing, Jeans, a nice sweater with a collared shirt under. Walks over to desk, flips through papers, notices a picture of him and a girl, picks it up, nods in disappointment, drops picture in agitation. Looks in mirror, fixes collar, walks out of room.

JIM (V.O.)

James Russell, who the hell is James Russell? Why is he so damn confused? My name is James Russell. I’m young, healthy, and ambitious. I’m a college student, and I don’t work. Most days I can sleep in, and others I have to get up to go to classes which generally interest me. I live the quintessential college live, or at least the stereotype of what that is; I have a terrible diet, even worse sleeping habits, and I party, a lot. I basically do whatever I want whenever I want to. So why am I so damn confused? Why do I feel so incomplete? I often ask myself this question, and can never answer it. I try and put logical thought to my behavior, or at least an explanation to the random coincidences which make up my life, typically to no avail. Is it my recent break up with the girl I can’t seem to forget? Is it my concern or better yet my fear of the future? I couldn’t even begin to try and decipher. I guess I should just take what I can get. Fuck it, at least it’s Friday.

CUT TO:

INT.—LIVING ROOM—DAY

Jim walks into living room, picks up school bag from floor, Music fades. Notices his roommate TODD laying on couch, under blanket, awake, but speaking lethargically.

JIM

What’s up T?

TODD

Yo Jimmy, class?

JIM

Yea, Friday baby! Ready for the weekend?

TODD

You know it.

JIM

Alright bro, I’m out, will you be around at about two?

TODD

Yea dude, I think.

JIM

Tight, let’s get the party started early.

TODD

I’m down.

JIM

Alright, see ya then.

TODD

Peace.

CUT TO:

EXT.—GRASSY OPEN FIELD—DAY

Music fades back in. Jim walking across field, still shot from ground. Tall dorm building in far background.

CUT TO:

EXT.—COLLEGE CAMPUS—DAY

Shot of same building from ground looking straight up.

CUT TO:

INT.—DORM HALL—DAY

SHELLEY is standing in front of elevator, waiting. Door opens, RANDOM GUY is standing with a school bag on and headphones in his ears, he nods at her, she turns facing the camera, smiling. Door closes.

CUT TO:

INT.—DORM LOBBY--DAY

Music fades. Elevator door opens, Shelley exits, walks left, followed by random guy on elevator who walks right. She walks over to mailboxes, notices girl closing mailbox with three pieces of mail in her hand. Shelley opens her mailbox, looks in, closes mailbox.

SHELLEY

Hey Laura!

LAURA

Hi Shelley, how are you?

SHELLEY

I’m good, just going to class. How are you?

LAURA goes through mail, throws two pieces of mail in trash can, they begin walking.

LAURA

I’ve been great! I have class now too, let’s walk together.

CUT TO:

EXT.—COLLEGE CAMPUS—DAY

The two exit the building, and began walking through campus, Laura begins opening mail, Shelley glances at mail as Laura opens it.

SHELLEY

Is it your birthday?

LAURA

No, it was like a week ago, but I’m still getting cards!

SHELLEY

Well happy belated birthday! Sorry, I didn’t even know.

LAURA

Thanks! My brother sent me this, he lives in New York now, he’s so sweet! Every year I get the same amount of money as my age.

SHELLEY

Oh, that’s cool!

Laura, acting giddy, excited, opens card, takes out money, reads card, and shows Shelley the money. CLOSE ON of DOLLAR BILL on top of stack of bills (focuses on the top one dollar bill as to introduce importance of this particular bill). Zooms out to same shot of them walking. Laura puts card in her purse, money in her wallet.

LAURA

See, nineteen dollars!

SHELLEY

Cool. So do you have any plans for tonight?

LAURA

Um, not really, but its Friday! Party!

SHELLEY

Yea, I haven’t been out in a while, we should hang out.

LAURA

Yea that would be fun! Let’s do it! Do you have my number?

SHELLEY

Yea, I do, but I gotta head towards the Liberal Arts building, I’ll definitely call you later.

LAURA

Okay awesome! Have fun in class, talk to you later!

SHELLEY

Okay, bye!

They walk off in different directions.

CUT TO:

INT.—FOOD COURT—DAY

Laura walks up to BURNING BEANS coffee shop, takes out her wallet, puts three one dollar bills on counter and orders coffee. Attendant inadvertently places coffee on top of bills, as a small amount of coffee spills down the cup, creating a circular stain on the top bill. Attendant apologizes, tells her the price, Laura picks up the coffee. CLOSE ON the DOLLAR BILL, which now has an obvious distinct stain. Zooms back as attendant grabs money, puts it in register and gives Laura change. Laura drops the change in the tip jar, they thank each other, and Laura walks to a table at opposite end of the shop which is covered with sugars and creams. Laura puts coffee down, Camera zooms into cup of coffee from above, which fades into a slightly different colored coffee, and zooms out to a mug with coffee, where Tony then pours milk into it, stirs it.

CUT TO:

INT.—KITCHEN –DAY

TONY, one of Jim’s roommates walks into living room, where Todd is still laying on the couch, now with a remote in his hand, flipping through channels on TV, still being very lethargic. Tony walks over into living room, sits on couch adjacent to couch Todd is on.

TONY

What’s up Toddy? You plan on getting up today?

TODD

Doubt it.

TONY

I don’t blame ya, my head is banging!

TODD

You got work today lil’ daddy?

TONY

Yea, but just from noon to three. Is Jim here?

TODD

Ha, that’s such a bullshit job. Jim’s at class, he said he’ll be back around two.

TONY

At least I got a job you worthless fuck bag.

TODD

At least when I get up in the morning I don’t have to see that face in the mirror, oh yea, you don't get up in the morning. 

TONY

Good one. Did you tell Jim we saw Kara last night?

TODD

No man, and I don't intend to, that fool has got to get over her, she is bad news. I don’t even want him to know she’s still alive!

TONY

Good call, I would say let’s find him some fresh trim tonight, but hey, first and foremost, I’m looking out for numero uno.

TODD

I heard that!

They pound fists, laughing, Tony stands up, and starts heading down the hall towards the bathroom, Todd stays lying lazily on the couch, starts flipping channels again.

TONY

Alright, I gotta shower up, go to work. You should get out yourself, it will make going out tonight that much more deserved, more worth it.

TODD

Eeehh.

CUT TO:

INT.—BURNING BEANS COFFEE SHOP—DAY

LUKE, a student, walks into the coffee shop and orders a red bull, pays the attendant with a five dollar bill and is given change. On top of the bills he received is the circular stained bill, CLOSE ON the DOLLAR BILL. Luke puts the bills in his pocket, and leaves the shop.

CUT TO:

EXT.—COLLEGE CAMPUS—DAY

Luke walks out of the building, and in the middle of a crowded plaza, he runs into Jim. In the midst of them two talking, Shelley walks up and joins in the conversation. She walks up from behind Jim, not noticing him at first.

LUKE

Jimmy!

JIM

Yo! What’s up man? Long time no see.

LUKE

I know man, what’s the word?

JIM

Just chillin, same old shit.

LUKE

Chillin hard?

JIM

Chillin hard!

LUKE

If you ain’t chillin hard, you ain’t chillin.

JIM

Haha, where’ve you been?

LUKE

Here and there, taking everyone’s money playing pool.

JIM

Ooh, sounds like a challenge to me.

SHELLEY

Hey Luke! Oh, hey Jim!

LUKE

Shelley! The love of my life!

JIM

Hey Shelley, you look nice, how are ya?

SHELLEY

Thanks, you’re not looking too bad yourself, I like you’re sweater.

JIM

Thanks, I wore it hoping I’d see you, I guess it paid off.

LUKE

Aww, you two are so cute. Oh, yall should come by my place tonight, big party!

JIM

Yea? Sweet.

LUKE

Shelley?

SHELLEY

Do you still live on Ambrose?

LUKE

Right as rain.

SHELLEY

Well I might see you boys there then. Can I bring a friend?

LUKE

Female friend?

SHELLEY

What if I said no?

JIM

Then you’d be answering your own question.

LUKE

Nah, that’s fine.

SHELLEY

Good, well, it’s a girl anyway, my friend Laura, I don’t think you two know her.

LUKE

The more the merrier.

JIM

Sounds like my kind of party. Alright, I’m gonna jet, see yall tonight?

SHELLEY

Hopefully.

JIM

I’ll be holding my breath.

LUKE

Alright, later man, I’m out too, I’m starving. Peace Shelley, Jim.

SHELLEY

Bye boys!

They all depart three separate ways.

CUT TO:

INT.—PIZZA SHOP—DAY

Two workers are behind the counter arguing, TONY and his co worker MATT. Luke walks in to pick up order, notices two talking, joins the conversation.

TONY

Think about it, Mike Tyson in his prime. He could hit so hard!

MATT

Come on dude, are you serious? We’re talking about a bear, one hit and Tyson is dead.

TONY

Okay, keep in mind, they both have to wear gloves, and muzzles. And Tyson is fast, and a trained fighter, he could throw ten punches before the bear throws one. [Turns and addresses LUKE] Hey, can I help you?

LUKE

What’s up? Hey, what’s your name man? I think I know you.

TONY

Yea, you look familiar, I’m Tony, don’t you know my roommate Jim Russell?

LUKE

Yep, that’s it, I’m Luke, how you been? They shake hands.

TONY

Same old shit. Alright, settle a bet, who would win in a fight, Mike Tyson in his prime, or a bear? In a ring, and they both have to wear gloves and muzzles.

LUKE 

What? I’d put my money on the bear.

MATT

Yea Tony, you’re an idiot, it’s a fucking bear.

TONY

Well, I think it would be a good fight at least. Did you order already?

LUKE

Yea, I had two slices of pepperoni. 

TONY

Grab that for me Matt, six bucks bro.

LUKE

Even?

TONY

Yep.

Matt places the pizza on the counter, Luke takes out cash from his pocket, hands Tony six dollars, with the coffee stained dollar on top, CLOSE ON the DOLLAR BILL as it is given to Tony.

LUKE

Thanks man. Hey, I’m having a party tonight, yall should come by, have a beer.

TONY

Tight, I’ll have Jim call you. That sounds sick.

LUKE

Word, later fellas, see ya tonight. Oh, and bring some girls.

Luke turns and walks out. Tony takes Luke’s cash and puts it in his pocket. Matt notices.

MATT

Dude, are you just gonna keep that money?

LUKE

Yea man, I need a pack of smokes.

MATT

That’s kinda whack man.

LUKE

Would it be okay if I gave you three bucks?

MATT

Deal.

Tony takes cash out of his pocket, puts three back in his pocket, CLOSE ON coffee stained DOLLAR BILL on top of stack of three still in his hand. He crumples up the three dollars and throws it in the air to Matt, camera follows it in slow motion as it flies through the air. Matt catches it, straightens it out, and puts it in his pocket.

CUT TO:

EXT.—LUKE'S HOUSE—NIGHT

People are walking into the house, faint music is playing inside. Jim, Tony, and Todd walk up. They are all dressed fairly nice. Tony is carrying a bottle of liquor. Camera follows them as they walk in the house, the music gets louder, people scattered around, drinking. Jim notices KARA across the room, walks towards her.

CUT TO:

INT.—LUKE'S HOUSE—NIGHT

Jim fills party cup with beer from a keg, then awkwardly turns and walks up to Kara who is standing with another guy, BRANDON, her new boyfriend.

JIM

Kara.

KARA

Hi James.

JIM

Brandon.

BRANDON

What’s up cheese?

Brandon laughs condescendingly, kisses Kara and walks away.

JIM

Cheese? He’s a dick.

KARA

Grow up.

JIM

Grow up? Didn’t he just call me cheese?

KARA

Don’t be jealous.

JIM

I just don’t trust that guy.

KARA

James, that doesn’t matter, we’re not together anymore.

JIM

Will you call me Jim please?

KARA

I’ve never called you Jim.

JIM

Yea, and were not together anymore. Actually, why don’t you just leave?

KARA

Who do you think you are? Why don’t you leave?

Kara walks away, shaking her head in discontent. Jim is left standing alone, feeling belittled.

CUT TO:

Jim walking up to pool table where he sees Luke counting dollar bills, Matt is walking away from table with a beer.

JIM

What up biatch?

LUKE

Oh, sorry man, the gay pride barbeque is down the street.

JIM

I know, just came from there, or should I say, I've just cum from there. You wanna play?

LUKE

Sure, if you like getting beaten like the bitch you are.

JIM

You talk a big game my friend, five bucks?

LUKE

How about ten guy tough guy?

JIM

Well you better make ‘em all off the break, cause once I touch the stick you’re done.

Jim puts a ten on the side of the table, Luke puts a five and five ones down, CLOSE ON the coffee stained DOLLAR BILL on top the stack. Luke breaks.

CUT TO:

Todd and Tony are standing talking to two fairly attractive girls, GIRL 1 and GIRL 2. They are both smiling, being flirtatious.

TONY

Wait a second; you girls seriously think you can out drink us?

GIRL 1

You’d be surprised. This girl went head to head with a frat guy, and beat him!

Todd looks over at Tony, laughs condescendingly, and turns back to the girls.

TODD

A frat guy? Frat daddies are straight pussies, I’m surprised he even accepted the challenge.

TONY

He was probably planning on slipping you a roofie.

GIRL 2

Hey! My Brother is in a frat!

TONY

We’re just fucking with ya. Besides, there is no way either of you girls could drink that much, and maintain such perfect bodies.

Girl 1 flirtatiously slaps Tony on the arm.

GIRL 1

Oh shut up!

Camera pans through the party. Jim sees Brandon leaning against a wall in a hallway, talking to Shelley, he walks up to the two.

SHELLEY

Jim!

BRANDON

James.

Brandon winks at James and walks away.

JIM

Hey Shelley!

Shelley gives Jim a hug and looks to make sure Brandon is gone.

SHELLEY

I’m glad you made it. Ugh, that guy is such a creep!

JIM  

Yea, Tell me about it. Wow, you're looking even hotter than you did today.

SHELLEY

Thanks.

JIM

Speaking of creepy, that was kind of a creep line wasn't it?

SHELLEY

Yea, pretty crusty, I'll admit.

JIM

So how is everything?

SHELLEY

Pretty good, school is just killing me! Tonight is the first night I’ve been out in like a month.

JIM

That sucks, you should have gone with English; all I do is read interesting books and write essays.

SHELLEY

I do love to read, but I couldn’t write an essay to save my life.

JIM

Well, it’s not all easy, but at least I enjoy doing most of the work. What is your favorite book?

SHELLEY

Um, I don't know, I read that book Angela’s Ashes a couple of months ago, I liked that a lot.

JIM

Ah, Frank McCourt, good call, great book.

SHELLEY

And yours?

JIM

Eh, hard to say. I’m really into classic American literature, like Hawthorne or Melville, and of course Hemingway, but I just finished this book called Killing Yourself to Live, and I absolutely loved it. It’s about a writer from Spin magazine who travels the country going to all the famous rock and roll death locations, like where Duane Allman crashed his motorbike, and where John Lennon was shot, and he becomes obsessed with death in life and its connection to music. It’s hard to explain, but a great read, I love the way it’s written, and highly recommend it.

SHELLEY

Wow, you’re really enthusiastic about books huh?

JIM

It’s what I do.

SHELLEY

So do you want to be a writer, or?

JIM

Ideally, yes, but practically, I don’t know. I guess I wouldn’t mind teaching. I love the idea of being able to change the world with my words, but if I can’t, maybe I can influence young minds to eventually use their words to make a difference.

SHELLEY

That’s really cool! I wish I at least knew what I wanted.

JIM

What do you study?

SHELLEY

Right now I am a health science major, but I’m getting sick of all the math and science. Although I am starting to realize how much I’m interested in history.

JIM

History? That’s awesome, I love history, but that’s like English, where you have a limited job selection when you do graduate.

SHELLEY

Yea, you’re right, but on the other hand, as long as you have a degree, you still have a pretty good chance of getting almost any job, besides of course specific fields like Medicine or Law.

Faint music gets louder, upbeat rock music, as camera slowly pans around party.

FADE TO:

INT.—JIM'S HOUSE—DAY

Tony walks into living room carrying a cup of coffee, Jim is sitting alone on the couch, cup of coffee on the coffee table. Jim is staring blindly, daydreaming, thinking.

TONY

Hell of a night last night ehh?

JIM

Huh?

TONY

Last night was the shit.

JIM

Yea man, it was.

TONY

What the hell is wrong with you?

JIM

Nothing, I was just thinking. You ever think about, like, how cyclical life is?

TONY

What? No, I think about cool shit, like women, and drugs. But what are you talking about?

JIM

Ya know, like the seasons. Okay, check it out, I read this book last year, in one of my lit classes, One Hundred Years of Solitude. It’s about a town in South America, and the family that runs it. The book follows the town, how it rises, becomes successful, then slowly collapses, disintegrates, and the land returns to its original, uninhabited state.

TONY

Okay, and?

JIM

Well, what I took from it is, let’s say the town represented an empire, or even one man’s life, and how cyclical it is. I mean, our lives are basically dictated by the four seasons.

TONY

I hear ya, I just hate philosophy. It’s not real, it doesn’t accomplish anything.

JIM

That’s pretty much the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

TONY

No, don’t get me wrong, I’m not hating on positive, productive thought, I just don’t see any contribution to the world when a couple of self proclaimed philosophers sit around and argue about existence, and reality.

JIM

Haha, touché. Have you ever taken a philosophy class?

TONY

Yes actually, granted it was only an intro class, and it was interesting, but it further proved my theory that philosophy accomplishes nothing.

JIM

I wouldn’t totally agree, but your argument holds water, in a devil’s advocate kind of sense.

TONY

Let me guess, you’ve been thinking about Kara.

JIM

Yes as a matter of fact I have.

TONY

Aww, I knew it. Dude; forget about her already, she’s no good for you.

JIM

Nah man, it’s not like that, it just made me think, me and Kara were together for a while, and we shared so much. Now, she’s with that loser Brandon, who I saw last night, being the scumbag he is, trying to get up on Shelley, who I think, or at least I hope, is into me.

TONY

Oh, nice, a big disgusting love triangle, or love trapezoid.

JIM

You see what I’m saying? Even my love life comes back around to me in some fucked up way.

TONY

Well Shelley is cute, real cute, and from what I can tell she seems pretty cool. So you need to forget the circle, quit harping on Kara, and make it happen with Shelley.

JIM

I know man, I really do, but you gotta respect the circle.

TONY

Fuck the circle, fuck regret, fuck the past, it’s all about the now!

JIM

I wish I could say fuck it all.

TONY

Stop being so goddamned pessimistic.

JIM

I know, I know. I gave Shelley my number last night; I told her I’d take her to lunch today. She said she’d call me around noon.

TONY

There ya go!

Tony reaches over and daps off Jim. Jim reaches in his pocket, pulls out a dollar bill, the coffee stained DOLLAR BILL, slaps it on the table, and begins explaining. CLOSE ON the DOLLAR BILL.

JIM

Alright, check it out, this dollar, money, what we as humans, modern man, live for, it’s cyclical. It started in nature, was made in a mint, Philly or Denver, or wherever the mints are, and was sent out to the public. It probably has been through a hundred or so people already, it will probably go through a hundred or so more, until it gets old and worn, gets back to a bank, where it will eventually get replaced, destroyed, and returned to nature.

TONY

That is pretty cool man, can I see that dollar?

Jim hands the dollar to Tony, Tony slowly turns, puts a cigarette in his mouth, takes out a lighter, turns back to Jim, lights the dollar bill on fire, and lights his cigarette from the dollar bill, and drops the burning bill. Jim gets surprised, alerted.

JIM

What are you doing?

TONY

I’m destroying the circle.

JIM

What? What the fuck man?

Jim’s cell phone rings, he takes it out of his pocket, and glances at it.

TONY

Is that Shelley?

JIM

As a matter of fact, it is.

Jim smirks, and gets up to answer his phone, Tony becomes excited, elated.

TONY

Yes! What did I tell you? You control your own destiny!

Jim answers his phone as he walks away, pacing, talking on his phone, but what he is saying can’t be heard. Camera pans to DOLLAR BILL, as music fades in, upbeat rock, the song climaxes as the camera pans back up to Jim who hangs up his phone smiling, raising his arms up triumphantly.

FADE OUT