INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

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Close-up on JACOB (19), pale and gaunt, lying in a hospital bed.

 

A DOCTOR enters, holding a LETTER.

 

Jacob's hand trembles as he reaches for the envelope.

 

CUT TO:

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EXT. REMOTE CABIN - CALIFORNIA - DUSK

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A lone cabin nestled in the woods.

 

The ground around it is scarred with tire tracks, concentric circles into the dirt.

 

Jacob stands alone, waiting.

 

A RED SPORTS car approaches. 

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MIKE (19) exits, they exchange an energetic handshake.

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INT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS

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MIKE (19) hunches over a mixing board, adjusting knobs with precision.

 

The room is cluttered with musical equipment.

 

The door swings open. Jacob enters, a cigarette dangling from his lips. His eyes are hollow, haunted.

 

He nods at Mike, then immediately heads back outside.

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EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS

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Jacob leans against the cabin wall, taking a long drag.

 

His gaze falls on the tire tracks.

 

A muscle in his jaw twitches. 

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INT. CABIN - MOMENTS LATER

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Jacob returns. Mike gives him a nod, hits a button.

 

Music floods the room.

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Jacob grabs the mic, closes his eyes. Mike on the guitar. 

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They jam hard. Rattle the ground. 

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A recorder records their output.

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For a moment, Jacob’s face relaxes, lost in the music.

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QUICK FLASH: HOSPITAL ROOM. DOCTOR TALKING.

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Suddenly, Jacob's eyes snap open. With a snarl, he knocks over the mic stand. 

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Mike jumps back, startled.

 

Jacob storms out, slams the door.

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EXT. CABIN - CONTINUOUS

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Mike rushes out, watches as... 

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...Jacob in the car, peels away, tires spinning furiously.

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The car whips around in tight circles, kicking up dust and gravel.

 

Jacob's face is a mask of concentration and rage.

 

Mike edges closer, crouching low to the ground. Get dangerously close to the rotating car. 

 

The car's tires miss him by inches, he gently touches the body of the spinning car.​ He is in zen.

 

They have mastery over this game and have been doing it for a long time.

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Jacob skids to a stop, passenger door flying open. He gestures for Mike to get in.

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Now Mike is driving. The car peels out again, both boys' faces showing a mix of exhilaration and fear as they spin. 

 

Their head bouncing with excitement to the music.

 

 

CABIN

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Back at the mixing board. Mike's phone lights up with a call from "Mom".

 

He answers, speaking warmly, inaudibly.

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Jacob glares, pulls out his phone, there is no notification.

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He pulls the letter from his pocket.

 

Unfolds it, eyes scanning the words.

 

His face darkens.

 

He crumples the paper back into his pocket.

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Mike ends the call, turns back to Jacob.

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Jacob pulls out a small vial of white powder.

 

Snorts it.

 

Mike's eyes widen.

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Jacob grabs his guitar, starts playing furiously. ​​

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OUTSIDE 

 

The red car tear around the clearing, faster and faster. 

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CABIN

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Mike tries to adjust the levels, but Jacob keeps cranking up the volume.

 

The speakers visibly vibrate with the intensity.

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CAR INTERIOR

 

Jacob's laughing maniacally, while Mike grips the dashboard, eyes wide with fear.

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CABIN

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Jacob advances on Mike, his playing becoming more aggressive. Mike backs away, bumping into equipment. 

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OUTSIDE

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Mike now driving, Jacob dodges the donuts.

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CABIN

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The confined space of the cabin feels suffocating. Their argument heats up.

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CAR INTERIOR

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Mike furious, rotates the wheel.

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OUTSIDE

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Car drifts uncontrollable into Jacob.

 

He raises his hand in a futile defense.

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CUT TO:

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EXT. CABIN - DAY

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Jacob lying motionless in the dirt.

 

Beside him his crumbled letter.

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Close-up on it: "STAGE 4 LIVER CANCER"

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Further away by the car, Mike smokes a cigarette, shaking.

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CUT TO:

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INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY (FLASHBACK)

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We're back where we started. Jacob receives the letter from the doctor, his face a mask of denial.

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EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

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Jacob exits, looking shell-shocked.

 

He pulls out his phone, types a message: 

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"Meet me at the cabin. Let’s record some new songs."