Road Not Taken

ROAD NOT TAKEN

Written by Kirk Brown


FADE IN.

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

A road diverges into two.

LUKE BATES -  A man in his early 20’s, walks down one side of the road.

    (V.O.) COUNSELER 

    If you need anything at all.

CODY PARKS - A man in his early 20’s, walks down the other side of the road.

    (V.O.) COUNSELER (CONT'D) 

    Either of you.

They walk toward each other, never looking at one another.

    (V.O.) COUNSELER (CONT'D) 

    You can call my number.

They pass by each other.

INT. CODY’S APARTMENT - DAY

Cody sits on his couch holding liquor in his hand. He stares at the television screen in front of him.

    (V.O.) GRACE

    My physical time is over with you now, but my spirit will love you forever. I will miss you always, until I can hold you again.

INT. LUKE’S BATHROOM - DAY

Luke trims his beard and combs his hair, staring at the mirror in front of him. The sink runs water.

    (V.O.) GRACE

    And tell God, ‘thank you’ for me. And tell him how grateful I feel that he chose me to be with you, and I hope I made him proud.

INT. CODY’S APARTMENT - DAY 

Cody swigs his liquor.

    (V.O.) GRACE

    I hold you with my whole entire heart.

INT. LUKE'S BATHROOM - DAY 

Luke turns off the sink.

INT. LUKE’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Luke picks up his phone and makes a call. The person on the other end answers.

    (O.S.) CODY

    Hello.

    LUKE 

    Hey.

    (O.S.) CODY

    Hey man.

    LUKE 

    How’s it going?

    (O.S.) CODY

    Good.
    (A beat)

    How are you?

    LUKE 

    Doing good.

    (A beat)
    You wanna hang out soon? Get some lunch, or chill at my place?

INT. CODY'S APARTMENT - DAY

    CODY 

    (A beat)

    I’ve still got a bunch of homework to do.

    LUKE

    I was gonna stop by the tree today.

    CODY 

    (A beat)

    I’ll let ya know.

    (O.S.) LUKE 

    Yeah, okay.

    (A beat)
    Well, just hit me up if you wanna hangout or anything.

    CODY 

    Sounds good man.

    (O.S.) LUKE 

    Alright, talk to ya later.

    CODY 

    See ya.

Cody hangs up the phone. He goes to pick back up his liquor bottle, then sets it down. He picks up his phone and sends a text message on it. He picks up the bottle and swigs it.

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

Luke and Cody are stood in front of a tree next to the road. At the base of the tree, flowers are layed around it. Luke reaches down and puts a hand on the tree. Luke stands up and the pair stare ahead.

    LUKE

    Did you see Grace quit her job?

    CODY 

    How come?

    LUKE 

    I don’t know.

    CODY

    She always complained about it anyway, maybe she got a new one.

    LUKE 

    Yeah I hope so.

There is a long pause.

    CODY

    You think James is up there gettin’ handjobs 24/7?

    LUKE

    If he’s getting as many girls as he did down here, then no.

    CODY

    He did have a girlfriend.

    LUKE

    More than we can say.

    CODY

    No... I’m sure he’s up there still whipped by Grace.

    LUKE

    They loved each other a lot.

    CODY

    Have you talked to her lately?

    LUKE 

    Not recently.

    CODY

    Maybe you should call her and check on her. She did always like you more than me.

    LUKE

    Probably cause I didn’t hurl on her.

    CODY 

    Fair enough.

The pair stare at the tree.

    LUKE 

    Ready?

    CODY

    Yeah.

INT. LUKE'S LIVING ROOM - DUSK

Luke and Cody sit on the couch with beers next to them. Bottles are scattered around. They both focus on the TV at a video game they are playing. Cody loses to Luke.

    CODY

    Oh fuck off! That is such a fucking broken mechanic.

    LUKE

    Three in a row. Down the hatch my friend.

Luke puts a shot in front of Cody.

    CODY 

    Fuck me.

Cody does the shot.

    CODY (CONT'D)

    Jesus. Alright that’s enough for me.

    LUKE

    The game dictates when it’s enough.

    CODY

    That game can suck my dick.

    LUKE

    I guess nobody else is going to.

    CODY 

    Fuck off.

Luke gets up.

    LUKE

    I’ll be back in a sec. Gotta take a piss.

Cody gets up after a moment and grabs his car keys from a table. Luke comes back into the living room.

    LUKE (CONT'D) 

    What are ya doin?

    CODY

I’ve got class early tomorrow so I gotta get going.

    LUKE

    You just had like 3 shots.

    CODY 

    Yeah, I’m good

    LUKE

    Just sleep it off here.

    CODY

    Nah, I really should go home.

    LUKE

    Just give me the fucking keys, dude.

    CODY 

    I’m fine dude.

Luke begins to reach for Cody’s keys and they fumble a bit.

    CODY (CONT'D) 

    I said I’m good.

    LUKE 

    You’re not.

    CODY 

    I let him go.

    LUKE 

    What?

    CODY 

    James.

    LUKE 

    What do you mean?

    CODY 

    I was with him.

    (A beat)

    I knew how drunk he was.

    (A beat) 

    I let him go.

There is a long pause. Luke sits down.

    CODY (CONT'D)

    I’m sorry. 

    (A beat)

    Luke, I’m sorry.

    LUKE

    Just get the fuck out.

There is a pause.

    CODY 

    Fuck you, Luke.

Cody exits the house. Luke sits alone. He screams.

    LUKE 

    Fuck!

EXT. GRACE’S HOUSE - DAY

A door bell rings over black.

Luke and Cody stand in front of Grace’s front door.

    LUKE

    Thanks for showing up.

Cody does not respond. After a moment, GRACE SNOW - A woman in her early 20’s, opens the front door.

    GRACE 

    Hey, guys.

    LUKE 

    Hey, Grace.

    CODY 

    What’s up, Grace.

    GRACE 

    You can come in.

Grace and Luke hug as he walks in the door. Cody gives Grace a side hug as he walks past.

INT. GRACE’S HOUSE - DAY

Luke and Cody stand in Grace’s living room. Grace walks in.

    GRACE

    You guys can sit down.

    LUKE 

    Thanks.

Luke and Cody both sit down.

    GRACE

    You guys want a beer?

    LUKE 

    No, thanks.

    CODY 

    Yeah, I’ll take one.

Grace grabs a beer from the fridge, hands it to Cody and sits down next to them.

    CODY (CONT'D) 

    Cheers. How’s life?

    GRACE

    Ya know. I quit my shit job, so that’s a plus.

    LUKE 

    That’s good.

    CODY 

    Yeah, congrats.

    (A beat)

    How’s classes going?

    GRACE

    Some are kinda kicking my ass, but I’m trying. Finals are in a few weeks.

    CODY 

    Oh, damn.

    LUKE

    Yeah, finals can be real shit.

    (A beat)

    How are you actually holding up, Grace?

Grace stammers.

    GRACE 

    Hanging in there.

    (A beat)

    I miss him a lot.

    (A beat) 

    Think about him a lot.

    CODY

    Yeah, of course.

    GRACE 

    I’ve had a lot of dreams about him, especially lately.

    LUKE 

    Good or bad?

    GRACE

    Usually good. A lot of times he’ll just say my name. Or I’ll just see his face.

Luke stares at Cody.

    LUKE 

    Tell her.

    CODY

    What?

    LUKE

    We’re here. Tell her.

    CODY (A beat)

    It wasn’t my fault.

    LUKE

    You said she deserves to know.

There is a long pause.

    LUKE (CONT'D) (Quietly)

    Fucking piece of shit.

Luke stands up and walks out of the house.

    CODY 

    I’m sorry, Grace.

Cody stands up.

    (O.S.) CODY

    Thanks for letting us come over.

    GRACE 

    Yeah.

Cody walks out of the house.

EXT. LUKE’S CAR - DUSK

Luke sits by himself. He contemplates. He turns his keys and his car starts up.

EXT. CODY’S CAR - DUSK

Cody sits by himself. He turns his keys and his car starts up.

EXT. LUKE'S CAR - DUSK 

Luke turns on his music.

EXT. CODY’S CAR - DUSK

Cody turns on his music. The same song plays over both radios.

INT. LUKE'S CAR - NIGHT

Luke arrives at his home and parks his car. He continues to sit while the car runs.

EXT. CODY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cody arrives at his apartment. He shuts off his car and exits.

INT. LUKE’S CAR - NIGHT

Luke turns up the music on his radio. He puts the gas pedal down to the floor. He closes his eyes.

EXT. LUKE’S GARAGE - NIGHT

Smoke pours out from under the garage.

EXT. CODY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cody opens the door to his apartment and enters. The door closes and the music cuts.

INT. CODY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

Cody sits down on his couch and stares ahead.

EXT. ROADSIDE - DAY

A road diverges into one.

FADE OUT.

THE END


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