INT. CHARLES’ APARTMENT
FADE IN to CHARLES sitting in an armchair which matches
Charles in the gathering scene. Charles’ eyes are closed as
it looks like he’s trying to focus on doing nothing.

CHARLES V.O.

I was sitting in the apartment and as
usual, I was waiting for JESSICA to
get ready. She’d been in the bathroom
for an eternity at this point. We were
going to see a 5:00 showing of a
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson movie and it
was already 4:45. My first reaction
was to freak out but, at the time, I
believed my anger management classes
taught me something. But, it was just
meditation. Any idiot can do
meditation. I’m not any idiot.

Within the Apartment, a clock ticks, the A/C hums, and water
drips from the kitchen sink. These household sounds break
Charles’ concentration.
CHARLES
(to himself)
Bullshit! If I really wanted this to
work, I’d have to shove my head up my
own ass for just a little silence! I
might as well be sitting in the middle
of a highway during rush hour. The
only thing I want to hear is The
Rock’s latest series of witty
catchphrases!
CHARLES
(yelling to Jessica)
Jessica! It’s okay if you fell in the
toilet I wont make fun of you!

There is no response from Jessica and this seems to only
anger Charles more.

CHARLES
(angrier)
Jessica! Answer me! I need to rant
about how much money I’m wasting on
Anger Management!

Charles gets out of the arm chair and walks to the bathroom
door. Charles wiggles the door knob and knocks on the door.

2.

CHARLES
(yelling)
Jessica! Open the door and maybe I’ll
apologize for yelling at you earlier!
Hello?

Charles begins knocking on the door and breathing heavily.

CHARLES

Jessica! We can’t miss this movie!
I’ve seen every Rock film opening
weekend! Jessica!

Charles steps away from the bathroom huffing and puffing. We
see him walk into the kitchen and pull out a shot glass and a
handle of Fireball. Charles pours himself a shot and drinks
it. He does this three more times.

CHARLES
(yelling)
Jessica! You’re driving to the
theater!

Charles runs around the kitchen, bumping into objects and
angrily yelling. Charles looks in his freezer to begin a
stress eating binge. In the fridge sits a single bag of FISH
STICKS. Charles puts the fish sticks on a tray and sticks
them into the oven. Charles goes to the set the timer but
first he checks the bag.
CHARLES

Forty-five minutes? For Fish Sticks!?

Charles sets the timer. We see Charles act out in a montage
of anger. Charles spins around the living room, lies against
the wall, bangs on the bathroom door, screams into a pillow,
and eventually falls to the floor. Charles is on the floor
falling asleep when the fire alarm starts going off. Charles
looks up at the clock. It’s 5:45.

CHARLES
(in a drunken haze)
Probably… Going to… Miss… the
trailers…

Charles gets up and pulls the fish sticks out of the oven.
They are horribly burnt. Charles picks up the empty Fish
Sticks bag.

3.

CHARLES
(reading the bag)
Four or five minutes!? This bag is a
liar! Jessica! Help!

Charles runs to the bathroom door and smashes the door open.

CHARLES

Jessica! We missed The Rock!

But, the bathroom is empty. Charles sits on the toilet’s lid
and sighs. The fire alarm is still going off. Police sirens
blare in the distance.

CHARLES V.O.

But, I’d forgotten Jessica was staying
in her hometown over the weekend. She
invited me but I didn’t wanna go cause
the theater in her hometown is trash.
I really have to stop leaving doors
locked from the inside.

TRANSITION BACK TO GATHERING SCENE WITH SHOT OF CHARLES
SITTING ON TOILET LID TO CHARLES SITTING IN CHAIR AT THE
GATHERING.

Written by Chris Miele