Dead Teenagers (2024) Movie Script
1
[cranking]
[crackling]
[eerie music]
[eerie music]
[eerie voice echoing]
Step right up.
[alarm ringing]
-[alarm turns off]
-[rock music playing softly]
[RJ]
All right, folks, this is KROC,
the rock of the '80s,
playing the monster hits.
And speaking of monsters,
this one has been
tearing up the charts.
This is "If We Die Young."
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
Morning.
That makes sense.
So, have you guys done it yet?
-Uh, yeah, we're not...
-We're, we're not...
-I'm, I'm not, I'm not...
-No. No, we're not--
Oh, sorry. No, I know.
Oh, my God,
you guys are so adorbs.
-Other people exist, you know?
-Die mad about it, bitch.
[chuckles]
-Who's that?
-[chuckles]
-Seriously, who is that?
-[laughs]
Ben. Wow.
God, baby, that ass is unreal.
Shut up. [laughs]
[pleasant music]
[footsteps approaching]
[Mandy]
Ben and Nicole
need to fuck, right?
Like, every time I see them
together, my tubes ache.
Gross.
And it wouldn't be the tubes.
Never mind.
-How are you?
-So good.
I never wanna leave this place.
Cool. Great.
Just wanted to check.
God, I'm fine. [chuckles]
I'm just excited. [snickers]
Why?
Okay. [laughs]
So, last night Ethan asked me
to take a walk with him today.
-[scoffs] Congratulations.
-No, no, you don't understand.
Ethan's from L.A.
He doesn't walk. Like,
he can barely work his legs.
If he wants to go for a walk,
it means he has
something to tell me...
...or something to ask me.
-Oh, fuck.
-If you don't at least pretend
to be happy for me,
-I will smash a bottle
in your face.
-I am not--
-Okay. [clears throat]
-Dude, don't.
I've been trying to save you
from assholes like him
your entire life.
I don't need to be saved
from a happy ending.
And you're sure
that's what this is?
[birds chirping]
It's so hot
that you can do that.
-Throw things?
-No, but you do it
so competently.
-I guess.
-It's funny.
I can, like, totally picture you
being here as a kid.
Like, pretending
the bushes are orcs
-and fighting them
with an imaginary sword.
-I didn't do that.
You did. Like, in school,
you were always like,
"I'm gonna be Aragorn,
and Mandy's gonna be Arwen."
I don't... remember that.
[sighs]
Oh. Yeah, okay.
[Ethan sighs]
Look, there's something
we gotta talk about.
[gentle guitar music]
[Jamie]
These are all different drafts
of the same song.
So, what, you wanna be, like,
a famous musician or something?
Yeah. I mean, maybe.
Kind of always thought
I would be a social worker
like my dad.
That's cool.
When I was younger,
I wanted to join the army.
Now, I wanna, like...
...I don't know,
run an animal sanctuary
or something.
Nice.
You know,
she's, like, uber-religious.
Nicole?
Mm-hm. Mormon.
Did you know that?
No.
Well, she is.
Probably gay too.
[Ethan]
I'm me...
...and me loves you, right?
But in six months, me is gonna
be running football drills
at Notre Dame,
and studying law and some shit.
And, like, who even knows
what that guy is gonna have
on his mind?
What if I got into Notre Dame?
It's really hard
to get into N.D., babe.
So... so you wanna,
like, what...
-...break up?
-Hey, you know, like,
what are you doing?
-Like, you've got no path.
-Have I been, like, considered
in this process, like, at all?
-Of course.
-No.
-Of course.
-No, because you just decided.
Because that's
what you always do. You just--
You decide things
and then everybody has to,
like, adjust reality for you.
That's not what this is, okay?
I'm not--
You're erasing me.
Don't be a baby.
You're gonna leave me,
a-- and then the others
are gonna leave for college,
and then everyone's
gonna leave me,
and it's just gonna be me here,
all alone, and...
[hyperventilating]
Hey, it's okay.
You're hurt. I get, I get it.
You need time. You need time.
I mean, I'm just
gonna step away, okay?
I will be here if you need it.
I mean, just--
I'm just gonna be over here.
You just-- And, like, you know.
[quietens down]
Wait. Uh...
Babe?
[birds and insects chirping]
[sniffles] Babe?
Babe?
[Mandy sniffles]
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
[footsteps approaching]
[sinister music]
[gasping]
[controlled breathing]
[Ethan]
Did she think
that we were gonna do
four years long distance
in college?
I mean, college is my time, man.
Like, pussy is about to be,
like, pow, pow, pow, you know?
-Shit.
-Are you shooting the women
in this scenario, bro?
Yeah. You know, like,
shooting them with my cock.
Are you okay?
-I'm worried about you.
-What?
No, man. I'm, I'm, I'm fine.
Like, like, with the breakup
and everything.
No, I'm good.
Like, you know, it's whatever.
-Yeah, sure.
-I'm fine.
You sound very cool and fine.
Plus, and I wanna be clear,
this is not the reason per se,
but I'm varsity captain.
Senior year, senior girls.
Come on, man. [slaps hands]
[sighs]
And so what's going down
with Nicole?
She's a fucking spicy glob
of wasabi, man.
Dude.
What are you gonna do, stab me?
[crickets chirping]
[birds cawing]
[rock music]
[grunts]
Okay.
-You are making a mess.
-I'll clean it up later.
I need to know that you're okay.
I'm okay.
No. Oh, no. Hey.
-I need to know it.
-[sighs]
I am fine.
Show me how it's done...
What do you think about this?
And we don't care
If we die young
-We don't care
if we die young
-You look great, babe.
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live forever--
[crickets chirping]
Let it go. He's an asshole.
[inaudible]
You do the whole Jesus thing,
right?
-Um, yeah. [chuckles]
-So you're gonna go,
like, on a mission?
Like, move to Utah,
and, like, marry a Mormon guy
or something
and have, like, 15 kids?
Like, the whole thing's
mapped out.
-Like, everything.
-[chuckles]
-Yeah, definitely.
-Yeah.
I, like, literally could
never do something like that.
Like, I gotta be free.
Free will, baby.
-Heavenly Father has a plan
for everyone.
-Yeah?
I hope that plan includes me,
like, doing whatever the fuck
I want, you know?
It does.
[scoffs] How come
we never hung out?
Like, I would, I would love
to talk about, like, Jesus
and shit some time.
You know, like... I'm just,
like, super open and curious
to, like, you know,
what people believe.
[exhales] Well, I believe that
Heavenly Father has a plan
of salvation.
-Right, right.
-A-- and that Heavenly Father
is love.
And that two hours
after you break up with someone
is not a good time
to hit on their friend.
Come on.
It wasn't even like that.
All right.
I was just trying
to get to know you.
I know that face.
Uh, have you, uh,
tried the guacamole?
I know why he makes that face.
-Babe, come on. Sit down.
-It's so beautiful out tonight.
I just wanna go for a walk.
Wanna come?
No. You.
[Mandy]
You've spent
a lot of time here, right?
[Ben]
I guess. We used to come here
when we were kids.
[Mandy]
Hm.
-[Mandy] Ever see
anything weird?
-[Ben] Like what?
[Mandy]
Like a silver tree.
[Ben]
Like an aspen or...
Listen...
...I know Ethan can be
an asshole,
but it's just that...
...he really cares about you.
Hm. [scoffs]
Maybe it will help if you talk
about the way you're feeling.
Kiss me.
-Am I allowed out now?
-You, over there.
He is off limits.
Eww. Gross.
-No offense.
-I, I get it.
So, uh, how are you
enjoying the cabin?
Seriously, dude, why now?
Fucked up the whole trip.
When you know, you know.
That is tote bag horseshit.
Mandy is delicate.
She needs to be taken care of.
She can't function on her own.
[Ethan]
I know you think
I'm, like, the devil
or whatever,
but this had to happen.
It's good that
this happened somewhere
that we can all do
some healing in.
Like an atmosphere
of calm and peace.
-[man] Hey there.
-[Nicole gasps]
[Ethan]
Who's there?
[man]
Didn't mean to scare you.
Just came down here to check in.
What you drinking there, slick?
Uh, just some pop.
[chuckles]
-[man] Soda pop.
-[Ethan] Yes, sir.
You know, good old soda pop.
[man]
You wanna be careful
with that stuff.
All that caffeine.
I'd say a teenager
like yourself--
-And y'all are teenagers, right?
-Yes, Officer.
Hm. Teenager like yourself
ought to keep it to two
or three pops. Don't you agree?
Y'all here for spring break?
Uh, y-- yes, sir.
[officer]
Good for you.
Get out there and have fun.
A lot of people figure,
"Why bother?
I'm just gonna die anyway--"
Is there a reason you're
trespassing on private property?
[softly] What are you doing?
That's all right. I just wanted
to check on you kids.
I'll be out of your hair
in just a second.
I wanted to let you know that
there's been an explosion
up at the steel mill.
Other side of the mountain.
Nothing for you to worry about.
But we gotta warn folks,
and we don't have a phone number
for this place.
-Cool. Great. Bye.
-Whoa, whoa, is anyone hurt?
Uh, we don't know much yet.
Strange case.
This guy got pretty badly burned
and ran off.
Yeah, we're trying
to find him still,
but, ah,
he probably didn't get far.
Not with the shape
he must have been in.
What, what kind of shape?
Let me know
if you need anything at all.
I'll be checking up on you.
Yes, sir. Hey, thanks, Officer.
Oh, take it easy
with that soda pop, slick.
[Ethan chuckles]
Yeah, sure thing.
Do you think
he knew it was beer?
[Mandy making kissing sounds]
-What was that?
-I didn't hear anything.
-I think I ought to go
check it out.
-But why?
Uh, just to make sure
everything's okay.
Make sure what's okay?
The forest?
I think I really need to go
and check it out, all right?
But, Ben?
[scoffs]
Ben?
[sighs] Again?
[insects chirping]
[footsteps]
[husky breathing]
[sinister music]
[screams]
[breathing heavily]
[screams]
[gasping]
[gasping] The door!
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Who the fuck is that?
-Get the fucking door! Go!
-Now! [screams]
-[Nicole] What is that?
-What the fuck is happening?
-[both gasping]
-[Jamie] Mandy!
-[Nicole] Oh, my God.
-Who was that?
Who was that? Who was that?
-I don't know. I don't know.
-Where's Ben?
-[Ben] What happened?
-[Ethan] Some kind of psycho.
Nicole, get up, get up.
-[Nicole] What?
-[Mandy] Who the fuck is the--
-[Jamie] Nicole, the window.
Let's go.
Nicole, will you fucking go?
[Ethan]
Shh.
[breathes shakily]
-Is he gone?
-[Nicole] Is who gone?
So, um, there was this man,
and I was on the forest,
and he just came out
of the trees,
and so he was running after me.
I saw him. He was fucking, some
kind of fucking welding dude.
[Jamie]
Didn't the cops say
about the steel plant?
Should we just call the police?
[glass shatters]
[screams]
[choking]
[Ethan]
No!
[sinister music]
[Jamie]
She's going to die.
[gagging]
[coughs]
Okay...
-[Mandy] Don't.
-...everyone.
[thud]
[Ethan gasps]
Fuck!
[Nicole panting]
-[Ethan] Look at me.
-[gasping]
Look at me, look at me,
look at me, look at me.
Breathe. Breathe.
-What are we supposed to do?
-[Nicole gasping]
Wait.
This isn't right.
She okay?
Do you guys feel that?
What?
It's like...
...nothing.
[Ethan]
It's nothing.
It's nothing.
It's... nothing.
It's nothing.
[Nicole]
Can we do something about him?
-It's freaking me out.
-[Jamie] Yeah, what are we
supposed to do about it?
[Ben]
Should someone call the cops?
-[Nicole] I don't like that
his head is, like, over there.
-Yeah. Oh, yeah.
-[Jamie] If you don't like it,
tape his head back on.
-I'll, uh...
Can someone--
There's a, there's a house
half a mile down the road.
-Can someone...
-[Jamie] Yeah.
[sighs]
[insects chirping]
Hey, what's up? We gotta go.
[eerie music]
[Jamie]
I don't... feel like it.
[ominous tone]
Do you want me to go first or...
Hm.
What's on your back?
There's nothing on my back.
[eerie music]
[Ben]
Ethan?
[Ethan]
What happened?
[insects chirping]
[door closes]
Hey.
[exhales]
-Fucking unreal, right?
-Mm.
Do you think this is the guy
the cop was talking about?
Like, what happened to him?
I don't know.
Maybe he went crazy.
I used to think that...
...getting a personality
or whatever was like
your brain is this blank room
and you fill it with furniture.
Like, you go to Italy
and you put a couch in the room.
Or you go to college
and you get, like, a beanbag
chair or something, but...
...now I don't know.
Now I think it's more like...
...you're in a room...
...and all the lights are off,
and you're just...
...feeling around,
bumping into things...
...and things move,
and you're just...
...stumbling around.
Maybe he bumped
into a new couch.
A crazy couch.
[sinister music]
[RJ] All right, folks,
here we go again.
This is another request.
And surprise, surprise,
here it is, "If We Die Young."
...every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
[Ethan]
I tried the phone. It's no good.
[Mandy]
Did I sleep
for two hours or 20?
-Hey, babe. How'd you sleep?
-Okay.
-We made pancakes.
-Fuck's sake, Jamie.
She's not a child.
Mandy, it's been eight hours.
[chuckles] What do you mean?
It's noon.
But it's dark.
[Jamie]
I told you, she wasn't ready.
Don't worry about it, babe.
We are figuring it out.
...if we die young
We don't care if we--
[tense music]
[Mandy]
You okay?
[Nicole]
I'm all right. Thank you.
Okay, but, like, you sure?
God is good, Mandy.
Do you know what's happening?
What do you mean?
I mean, like...
where is the sun?
[snickers] Don't worry about it.
God has a plan.
It was all written long ago.
[Jamie]
I love you.
You're very important to me.
I just care about you
more than anybody else here.
[Nicole]
Don't worry about it.
Do you love me too?
[Mandy]
Of course I do.
So, if something happens...
...we're on the same team.
Nothing's gonna happen.
But... if something does.
-Are you scared of something?
-I'm just trying to protect you.
[Nicole]
Don't worry about it.
It was all written long ago.
God is good, Mandy.
I was gonna go for a walk.
[Jamie]
Cool.
Yeah.
[footsteps]
[insects chirping]
[Mandy]
It's like a script
for a movie about us.
-About us?
-[Mandy] I guess.
It's all in there.
It's got the guy,
Torch, I guess...
-[Ben clears throat]
-...and he is attacking me.
But then he kills Ethan,
and it gets different.
I think the rest of it was like
what was supposed to happen.
But there's other stuff.
Like, I keep seeing things.
Like, movie things.
Sorry. So, so you think
-all of this is just a movie?
-[Ethan sighs]
Okay, no. Just...
Ben...
...tell me about your dad.
-Uh-huh, okay. He's a social--
-Social worker.
-Tell me something else
about him.
-[Jamie] Stop it, Mandy.
Seriously. Like, anything.
About your mom,
or school, or other friends.
-Anything that we haven't
talked about here.
-I, I have a dad.
Ben...
...what's his name?
When did you have time
to write this?
I didn't write it.
It's not that
we don't believe you, sweetie.
-It's just--
-Wait, you think I wrote that?
When? With what typewriter?
Typewriter?
Guys, guys, listen to this.
"Ethan is
football-captain material.
Handsome." Okay.
"Arrogant, a jerk and a bully."
-Weird response
to a breakup, babe.
-Hey, I didn't write it.
"Like her boyfriend, Ethan,
Mandy is a stunner.
Sexy, fun, vivacious.
But underneath it all,
she's incapable of giving up
on what's right."
-And I'm arrogant.
-Okay, stop it.
"Jamie is a tough, sexy punk,
and she'll do what it takes
to survive."
Guys, I've got a great idea.
We're gonna have a reading.
We're gonna give
Mandy's masterwork
its first public performance.
-Fuck off, Ethan.
-[Ben] Come on, dude.
She said she didn't write it,
so she won't mind us
reading it, right?
Fine.
[insects chirping]
[Ethan]
Okay.
Hear ye, hear ye.
We will now have
our first reading
of the weird screenplay
of our lives
that Mandy wrote
for some reason.
All right, here we go.
"Dead Teenagers,"
which is a troubling title.
"Interior, bedroom, day.
We are looking down
at a big bed,
and it is Mandy,
18, young and sexy.
She gets up and dances,
shaking her ass to the music,
dancing into interior,
hallway, day.
She runs into her boyfriend,
Ethan, hot and arrogant.
He says, 'Who's that?
Seriously, who is that?'
And then Ethan gropes her ass."
-Don't touch me.
-[Ethan] Fine.
Then, uh, "God, baby,
that ass is unreal."
[sighs]
"I'll be having breakfast
if you decide
you want to become
a human being some time."
[Ethan] Um, let's get
to something good here.
Let's get to the blood, right?
Blood or tits?
I don't care which. [laughs]
"Do you think
dinner's gonna be awkward?"
"I think it is, buddy. Yeah."
"Beat."
Don't know how long that is.
-We can skip this bit.
-Oh, now you wanna skip stuff?
[Ethan sighs]
"What's...
...what's going down
with Nicole?
She's a fucking spicy glob
of wasabi."
Sorry.
Uh, the script says
I wheel around.
I don't know
what wheeling means. Um...
Um...
"Dude."
Okay, we got
an extra character here.
Who's gonna be Torch?
I guess I'll be the monster.
Great. [clears throat] Okay.
So "Torch has Ethan cornered,
and Ethan goes...
'Look, man,
just take whatever you want.
You want the girls?
Take the girls'."
Thanks for the vote
of confidence.
Okay, so, "Torch takes
one menacing step forward.
'No, please'." Another step.
[whimpers]
"Please don't hurt me."
Anybody got any last words
before I die?
Eat shit.
Okay.
"And Torch heaves his knife,
and he cuts Ethan's throat.
Great gouts of blood
bubble out of the seams
that has opened
in Ethan's windpipe."
Okay, man, you're a great actor.
We get it.
[gagging]
[sinister music]
[both screaming]
[Mandy]
Oh, my God!
[indistinct shouting, screaming]
[birds chirping]
[pebbles clutter]
[pebbles clutter]
[Nicole]
Lord, we thank you
for this, our cabin.
We thank you for the trees,
and the driveway,
and the remaining food,
and wherever
the electricity comes from,
and the warm beds,
the carpeted floors,
and the sky, and the lake.
We pray for patience.
We pray to endure this test,
this punishment, this test.
[muted]
Lord, I thank you
for your greatest blessing,
that we know ourselves.
I know who I am.
I know who I am.
I am a bride of Jesus.
-There's nobody listening,
you know?
-Then what makes the wind blow?
Fuck you is what.
[Ben]
I thought I should do this.
I thought Ben was the type
of guy who would do this.
And then I thought
maybe Ben is the type of guy
who would wait for someone
to tell him what to do.
Maybe Ben is just a mirror,
and that's why everybody
loves him so much.
-You are Ben.
-Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Nicole.
Benjamin.
Mandy.
Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Jamie.
Derek.
Becca.
-Louis, Ander--
-God, shut the fuck up.
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
[knock on door]
Someone there?
[Jamie]
Can we talk?
Just a sec.
[Jamie]
I think Nicole's okay,
but Ben...
[sighs] Well, you know,
he's sensitive.
Mm, yeah. [chuckles]
I think it would help, um...
...if we had some sort of sense
of what to do next...
...or how this would end.
It's a shame
you lost the script.
Yeah, sorry. [chuckles]
I panicked. I'm dumb.
Come on, you're not that dumb.
'Cause I was thinking...
...maybe there's some clue
in there about what to do next.
I mean... time started moving
again when Ethan died, right?
So, maybe...
I mean, maybe...
...that's how things work.
-Hm.
-Maybe that's how things
start moving again.
I'm just being practical.
Okay, how, how long
are we gonna sit here
until we start
considering other options?
-I don't know.
-I know you don't, babe. I know.
Listen... if you remembered
where the script was,
nobody would blame you.
It would just be like,
"Oh, I remembered."
And nobody would be mad.
And you wouldn't have to do
any of the messy stuff.
I'll take care of everything.
I'm sorry. I'm dumb.
[pensive music]
Where's Nicole?
[Ben]
Do you want me to go find her?
Just tell me if you see her.
[birds chirping]
[footsteps]
[indistinct chatter]
Something I can do
for you, babe?
[sighs]
[tense music]
Hey.
Hey, babe.
We need to talk.
Have a seat.
We know you have the script.
And I know you think
you're protecting us. I get it.
And that must be
a lot of pressure on you, right?
So why don't you just give it
to me and let me figure it out?
-Wouldn't that be easier?
-I wanna say something.
Um...
I know you all think
I've been acting difficult
or whatever, but, um...
You know, I just--
I think it's really shitty,
um, with the way you've all
been, like, conspiring.
-I-- I'm just trying
to keep you safe.
-We are safe, babe.
Don't call me that.
I'm not a baby.
-[Jamie] Where is it?
-Guys.
Where is it?
[snickers]
Go upstairs for a while, guys.
I'm gonna talk to her.
You're all grown up now, huh?
Where's the script?
Come on.
Same team.
Please give me
options here, babe.
[snickers]
I don't know how to do this...
-...without hurting you.
-[gasps]
[grunts]
[tense music]
[scoffs]
[grunting]
[birds chirping]
[Ben]
Jamie?
What are you doing?
I love you...
...and...
...you're very important to me.
[Jamie breathing shakily]
I wanted to make sure that...
...nothing happens to you
when you're sleeping.
I wanted you
to be... comfortable.
I wanted you to be safe.
I found the script.
Did you know that we're in love?
We fall in love
at the end of the movie,
when everyone else is dead.
It's actually... [sobs]
It's actually
a nice little speech.
[sobs] I can't wait to hear it.
I am gonna do
whatever it takes...
...to get us out of here.
You're so beautiful.
[sobbing]
[sinister music]
[breathing heavily]
[door opens, creaks]
-[Nicole] Oh, my God.
-[Ben] Holy shit. Mandy.
What happened?
[Jamie] She's fine.
I'm fine.
[Ben]
What did you do?
Don't look at me like that.
Stop it.
-He kills you in the shower.
Did you know that?
-[Nicole] What?
[Mandy]
You have this big speech,
and he gets you.
When you were naked,
alone and afraid,
he does horrible things to you.
Nicole will read Mandy's part.
[sighs] Here.
We talked about this, remember?
[Ben inhales deeply,
exhales shakily]
Now, Ben.
"I can't believe
he's really dead."
"You need to
pull yourself together."
"He was my best friend
my entire life."
No, no.
You need to be more... intense.
He was my best friend
for my entire life.
[Jamie]
"Ben suddenly stands.
He says, 'What was that?'"
"What was that?"
-"Suddenly a car door slams."
-[car door slams]
-[Ben] Help us, please! Please!
Can you help us? Please.
-[Nicole] Excuse me, Officer.
-Officer, please.
-Calm down. Why don't
you tell me what happened?
Okay. Um, there is
this kind of welder guy
-who died, and--
-[Ben] We didn't kill him.
-[Nicole] No, no. He fell.
-[Ben] We didn't kill him.
We've been stuck here,
and our, our friend is hurt,
-and our other friend is dead.
-Are you saying
there's some kind of monster?
-No, he, he died.
-Sir, calm down.
That's why I'm here.
Uh-huh. And then what?
-What is he doing?
-I'm not...
If there's any danger here,
I'll take care of it.
That's why I got this baby.
Now, why don't you...
Stop right there!
Not one more step, sir!
I'm warning you!
[dramatic music]
-[Nicole] What is he doing?
-[grunts]
[Jamie]
The fight scene.
[dramatic music]
[grunts]
See you in hell, monster.
[sinister music]
[grunts]
[muffled scream]
[both grunting]
-She, she probably--
-It doesn't... matter.
-Nicole, Page 68.
-[Ben sighs]
[sighs] You've got a big scene
coming up.
Okay, so I'm sitting
next to her at the bar.
Nicole, you are facing the bar.
I am facing out.
Uh, this is where
you talk about your past.
It's after the escape
by the road,
and you find the body
in the truck.
We're both exhausted
and vulnerable,
-and you open up
about what happened.
-What?
-What happened.
-[Nicole] What happened?
[Jamie]
What happened happened.
-[Nicole] No, I mean--
-[Jamie] I know what you mean.
[suspenseful music]
[Nicole]
What, we can't skip one scene?
Not this scene.
I-- it's just--
It's not relevant.
It comes
completely out of nowhere,
and it doesn't affect anything.
I'm not even gay.
Well, if you don't read it,
we will.
I... [sighs]
Please.
She's right.
We've come this far.
[Jamie]
Ben, you'll read for Nicole.
[suspenseful music]
[Jamie]
Okay, so I say,
"Hard to believe that yesterday
we were five kids,
just like anyone."
-[Ben] Do I have to read it
like Nicole?
-[Jamie] No.
"We just had
to keep it together, beat.
You know,
when that monster had me,
all I could think about
was that day."
"What day?"
"I had this girl over
from class to study.
I don't know what happened.
We ended up kissing,
and that's when--"
When my dad came home.
[dramatic music]
Keep going.
[indistinct whispering]
"He yelled and he threw things
and grabbed me by the hair.
-After that, he, uh..."
-After that, he,
he made me read
the Bible every day.
And when I,
when I got something wrong,
he'd make me put
my hands on the ground
and he would stand on them.
And he was, you know,
he was big.
[indistinct, scrambled voices]
[tense music]
He never broke my fingers.
He was careful.
But sometimes he would put
his knee on my back
and pull my hair so it felt like
it was breaking, and I...
[sobs]
[screaming]
[RJ] All right,
ladies and gentlemen, I am,
I am very confused right now.
I don't really know
what's going on,
but, um, let's, uh,
let's listen to another song.
Here we go. "If We Die Young."
[Jamie sighs]
[unzips fly]
[pulls down pants]
[Jamie]
Step out.
Good boy.
[Ben sobbing]
[music playing faintly]
Arm.
[sighs]
Just like that.
We're gonna have to pretend
you're about to take a shower.
This will be the shower curtain.
"Nicole stands in the bathroom.
We admire her young body."
[sobs]
"From outside, we hear
the heavy footsteps of Torch
as he approaches the bathroom
and slowly opens
the creaking door."
[music playing faintly]
"Suddenly, Torch grabs
the shower curtain
and wraps it around her."
[sighs]
[music playing faintly]
And I guess he...
...puts the blowtorch
in her mouth...
[music playing faintly]
...and lights it.
Click.
[mimics blowtorch whooshing]
Did it work?
[music playing faintly]
[sinister music]
[chuckles]
See?
[music playing faintly]
It's working.
We just have to do
one more thing...
...and then it will be
you and me.
Jamie, please.
I can't.
[Ben shudders]
I am doing this... for you.
[music playing faintly]
[slow electronic music]
[sinister music]
[metal clanks]
[Ben softly]
There's nothing left.
Please, please, please, Jamie.
[whimpers, sobs]
I need to be sure.
[sobbing]
I'm so sorry, Mandy.
[Ben]
Please, please, no.
[sobbing] Please!
[motor whirring]
Please! [sobs]
[crying] Please!
[slow instrumental music]
Jamie.
[sobbing]
[sinister music]
[exhales]
Don't do it. Don't do it.
Please, Jamie.
Jamie. Jamie.
-[exhales loudly]
-Jamie!
[motor whirring]
I don't wanna die.
You don't have to do this.
Jamie!
-[screaming]
-[squelching]
[typewriter clacking]
[RJ]
Ladies and gentlemen,
let's see what we got here.
Another request coming in.
This is...
Seriously?
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
[pleasant music]
There is no one else for me.
I know we have
a pretty good group of friends.
We've all dated each other
at one point or another.
And I love you all. [chuckles]
But, Becca...
...I love you especially.
I can't imagine this
going any other way.
I love you,
and there is nothing
in this universe
that could change that.
[chuckles]
Um... [clears throat]
I guess I have a hard time
trusting people...
...but you...
and all you guys
gave me time and space.
And I'm not really religious,
but I thank God
that I met you guys.
And, Derek, I love you.
I am you and you are me.
By the power vested in me by me,
I hereby pronounce you
husband and wife.
[Becca]
We were thinking about
moving out of the city,
but it kind of feels like
we're a little young?
-Hm.
-Oh, and I'd miss my church,
the community and everything.
-Our church.
-Right.
-[chuckles]
-You okay, babe?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm just gonna...
[laughter]
[door opens]
Hey, Jake.
You all right?
We're missing you downstairs.
[Jake]
Hey.
I'm good. I'm fine.
Yeah. You sound
very good and fine. [snickers]
Well, hurry down.
[Jake]
Hey, Mandy.
Tell Becca I love her.
[gunshot]
[clacking]
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
[clacking]
[distorted] You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
-Morning!
-[Nicole] Hey!
-Hey!
-I was just saying this
has to be some kind of record.
Every single one of us
getting into Notre Dame.
Yeah. Maybe we can all
move in together or something.
-Oh.
-I love you.
-Love you too, bitch.
-[all] Aww.
[clacking]
[pleasant music]
[muted]
You are so perfect.
I can't believe you exist.
[both laugh]
Stop. [laughs]
-Ask me why I'm dancing.
[chuckles]
-I know why you're dancing.
I think it's gonna happen today.
He asked me to go
for a walk with him,
and he said it
all fake casual, like...
..."You wanna go for a walk?"
-[both chuckle]
-Just like that.
I'm really happy for you two.
He's a great guy.
Obviously,
you're my maid of honor.
I'm gonna make you wear a skirt.
Aww.
I'd rather eat glass.
[laughs]
So hot that you can
just, like, do that. [chuckles]
Shut up.
[pleasant music]
[muted]
[all screaming]
[Jamie]
Have you given any thought
what you want it to be?
Oh, I don't know. [laughs]
Probably something,
like, simple.
I mean, I just...
Maybe, like, a courthouse thing.
-I just wanna live
in the moment, you know?
-Mm.
-I'm so happy for you.
-[chuckles]
Have you ever been so happy
for someone else
you feel like you could explode?
[chuckles]
Hey, whose wedding is this?
[laughs] No, seriously.
Have you ever been so happy
that you feel like,
like nothing can hurt you?
I, I don't know what you mean.
Oh, I wish I could describe it.
It is the best feeling
in the world.
Actually...
...this bottle, right?
If I smash this on the table...
Jesus, psycho.
I could do this
and not be hurt at all.
-[thud]
-[laughing]
-[screams]
-["If We Die Young"
playing distortedly]
[shower running]
[distorted]
You wake up every day...
[screams]
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
[birds chirping]
[door opens]
-Guys.
-Mandy.
[Jamie]
Hey, girl.
[Ben]
We've been waiting for you.
-Everything's great now.
-[Jamie sighs]
-[all gushing]
-Oh, you're so soft.
-I like this scrunchie.
-[Ben laughs]
[birds chirping]
[all laughing]
[Mandy]
Are you scared of something?
[dramatic music]
[clacking]
[laughter]
[Jamie]
I'm just trying to protect you.
[laughter]
[Mandy]
You're erasing me.
[laughter]
[screams]
[laughter]
[clacking]
Hey.
What are you doing?
What am I holding in my hand?
Nothing.
There's a knife in my hand.
No, t-- there's not.
-[slashes]
-[gasps]
[screaming]
[screaming]
[insects chirping]
[director]
Okay, camera left.
That would be great.
If we can...
Uh, sound,
are you guys ready to go?
'Cause I don't, I don't wanna
sit around waiting around,
like, ten minutes for you to...
Okay, so you're set?
Like, you're ready
to go on "action"?
Okay, great. Cool.
Well...
Jazz, I better not see the logo
on those chips.
I don't wanna have to blur that
in post, okay?
Okay, so remember that
what you're doing here
is a gift, okay?
This is the only way out
for you and your friends.
It's a gift, all right, so--
Can, can we please...
All right, let's get slate in.
Scene 126. Charlie, take.
[director] Okay, we only got
one take of this.
Let's settle. And action.
[insects chirping]
Okay, let's cue music playback.
[slow instrumental music]
[muted]
[pleasant instrumental music]
[crying]
You're living in a disco
A movie is not life
Your real life
is evaporating around you
Even in this moment
Joy, happiness, love
comfort and safety
Are bubbles
blown by an ignorant child
Drifting for a moment
in the bliss of existence
Fashion, lights
Paris, lights
-Mandy
-And she says
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
Choose fantasy
The real world is a trap
designed by a demon
Not a test designed by a god
There is no heaven
there is no pot of gold
There are no 72 virgins
And even if there were
that is way too many virgins
Poison cup
Just give up
Mandy
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
The stories we tell
tell us who we are
There is no other way
of knowing
Your eyes lie to you
Your mind lies to you
Your urges lie to you
Your loved ones lie to you
Tell yourself who you are
And believe it
as hard as you can
Shut the doors
Lock the windows
Call yourself a hero
and make sure
There is nobody around
to contradict you
[cranking]
[crackling]
[eerie music]
[eerie music]
[eerie voice echoing]
Step right up.
[alarm ringing]
-[alarm turns off]
-[rock music playing softly]
[RJ]
All right, folks, this is KROC,
the rock of the '80s,
playing the monster hits.
And speaking of monsters,
this one has been
tearing up the charts.
This is "If We Die Young."
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
Morning.
That makes sense.
So, have you guys done it yet?
-Uh, yeah, we're not...
-We're, we're not...
-I'm, I'm not, I'm not...
-No. No, we're not--
Oh, sorry. No, I know.
Oh, my God,
you guys are so adorbs.
-Other people exist, you know?
-Die mad about it, bitch.
[chuckles]
-Who's that?
-[chuckles]
-Seriously, who is that?
-[laughs]
Ben. Wow.
God, baby, that ass is unreal.
Shut up. [laughs]
[pleasant music]
[footsteps approaching]
[Mandy]
Ben and Nicole
need to fuck, right?
Like, every time I see them
together, my tubes ache.
Gross.
And it wouldn't be the tubes.
Never mind.
-How are you?
-So good.
I never wanna leave this place.
Cool. Great.
Just wanted to check.
God, I'm fine. [chuckles]
I'm just excited. [snickers]
Why?
Okay. [laughs]
So, last night Ethan asked me
to take a walk with him today.
-[scoffs] Congratulations.
-No, no, you don't understand.
Ethan's from L.A.
He doesn't walk. Like,
he can barely work his legs.
If he wants to go for a walk,
it means he has
something to tell me...
...or something to ask me.
-Oh, fuck.
-If you don't at least pretend
to be happy for me,
-I will smash a bottle
in your face.
-I am not--
-Okay. [clears throat]
-Dude, don't.
I've been trying to save you
from assholes like him
your entire life.
I don't need to be saved
from a happy ending.
And you're sure
that's what this is?
[birds chirping]
It's so hot
that you can do that.
-Throw things?
-No, but you do it
so competently.
-I guess.
-It's funny.
I can, like, totally picture you
being here as a kid.
Like, pretending
the bushes are orcs
-and fighting them
with an imaginary sword.
-I didn't do that.
You did. Like, in school,
you were always like,
"I'm gonna be Aragorn,
and Mandy's gonna be Arwen."
I don't... remember that.
[sighs]
Oh. Yeah, okay.
[Ethan sighs]
Look, there's something
we gotta talk about.
[gentle guitar music]
[Jamie]
These are all different drafts
of the same song.
So, what, you wanna be, like,
a famous musician or something?
Yeah. I mean, maybe.
Kind of always thought
I would be a social worker
like my dad.
That's cool.
When I was younger,
I wanted to join the army.
Now, I wanna, like...
...I don't know,
run an animal sanctuary
or something.
Nice.
You know,
she's, like, uber-religious.
Nicole?
Mm-hm. Mormon.
Did you know that?
No.
Well, she is.
Probably gay too.
[Ethan]
I'm me...
...and me loves you, right?
But in six months, me is gonna
be running football drills
at Notre Dame,
and studying law and some shit.
And, like, who even knows
what that guy is gonna have
on his mind?
What if I got into Notre Dame?
It's really hard
to get into N.D., babe.
So... so you wanna,
like, what...
-...break up?
-Hey, you know, like,
what are you doing?
-Like, you've got no path.
-Have I been, like, considered
in this process, like, at all?
-Of course.
-No.
-Of course.
-No, because you just decided.
Because that's
what you always do. You just--
You decide things
and then everybody has to,
like, adjust reality for you.
That's not what this is, okay?
I'm not--
You're erasing me.
Don't be a baby.
You're gonna leave me,
a-- and then the others
are gonna leave for college,
and then everyone's
gonna leave me,
and it's just gonna be me here,
all alone, and...
[hyperventilating]
Hey, it's okay.
You're hurt. I get, I get it.
You need time. You need time.
I mean, I'm just
gonna step away, okay?
I will be here if you need it.
I mean, just--
I'm just gonna be over here.
You just-- And, like, you know.
[quietens down]
Wait. Uh...
Babe?
[birds and insects chirping]
[sniffles] Babe?
Babe?
[Mandy sniffles]
[sighs]
[suspenseful music]
[footsteps approaching]
[sinister music]
[gasping]
[controlled breathing]
[Ethan]
Did she think
that we were gonna do
four years long distance
in college?
I mean, college is my time, man.
Like, pussy is about to be,
like, pow, pow, pow, you know?
-Shit.
-Are you shooting the women
in this scenario, bro?
Yeah. You know, like,
shooting them with my cock.
Are you okay?
-I'm worried about you.
-What?
No, man. I'm, I'm, I'm fine.
Like, like, with the breakup
and everything.
No, I'm good.
Like, you know, it's whatever.
-Yeah, sure.
-I'm fine.
You sound very cool and fine.
Plus, and I wanna be clear,
this is not the reason per se,
but I'm varsity captain.
Senior year, senior girls.
Come on, man. [slaps hands]
[sighs]
And so what's going down
with Nicole?
She's a fucking spicy glob
of wasabi, man.
Dude.
What are you gonna do, stab me?
[crickets chirping]
[birds cawing]
[rock music]
[grunts]
Okay.
-You are making a mess.
-I'll clean it up later.
I need to know that you're okay.
I'm okay.
No. Oh, no. Hey.
-I need to know it.
-[sighs]
I am fine.
Show me how it's done...
What do you think about this?
And we don't care
If we die young
-We don't care
if we die young
-You look great, babe.
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live forever--
[crickets chirping]
Let it go. He's an asshole.
[inaudible]
You do the whole Jesus thing,
right?
-Um, yeah. [chuckles]
-So you're gonna go,
like, on a mission?
Like, move to Utah,
and, like, marry a Mormon guy
or something
and have, like, 15 kids?
Like, the whole thing's
mapped out.
-Like, everything.
-[chuckles]
-Yeah, definitely.
-Yeah.
I, like, literally could
never do something like that.
Like, I gotta be free.
Free will, baby.
-Heavenly Father has a plan
for everyone.
-Yeah?
I hope that plan includes me,
like, doing whatever the fuck
I want, you know?
It does.
[scoffs] How come
we never hung out?
Like, I would, I would love
to talk about, like, Jesus
and shit some time.
You know, like... I'm just,
like, super open and curious
to, like, you know,
what people believe.
[exhales] Well, I believe that
Heavenly Father has a plan
of salvation.
-Right, right.
-A-- and that Heavenly Father
is love.
And that two hours
after you break up with someone
is not a good time
to hit on their friend.
Come on.
It wasn't even like that.
All right.
I was just trying
to get to know you.
I know that face.
Uh, have you, uh,
tried the guacamole?
I know why he makes that face.
-Babe, come on. Sit down.
-It's so beautiful out tonight.
I just wanna go for a walk.
Wanna come?
No. You.
[Mandy]
You've spent
a lot of time here, right?
[Ben]
I guess. We used to come here
when we were kids.
[Mandy]
Hm.
-[Mandy] Ever see
anything weird?
-[Ben] Like what?
[Mandy]
Like a silver tree.
[Ben]
Like an aspen or...
Listen...
...I know Ethan can be
an asshole,
but it's just that...
...he really cares about you.
Hm. [scoffs]
Maybe it will help if you talk
about the way you're feeling.
Kiss me.
-Am I allowed out now?
-You, over there.
He is off limits.
Eww. Gross.
-No offense.
-I, I get it.
So, uh, how are you
enjoying the cabin?
Seriously, dude, why now?
Fucked up the whole trip.
When you know, you know.
That is tote bag horseshit.
Mandy is delicate.
She needs to be taken care of.
She can't function on her own.
[Ethan]
I know you think
I'm, like, the devil
or whatever,
but this had to happen.
It's good that
this happened somewhere
that we can all do
some healing in.
Like an atmosphere
of calm and peace.
-[man] Hey there.
-[Nicole gasps]
[Ethan]
Who's there?
[man]
Didn't mean to scare you.
Just came down here to check in.
What you drinking there, slick?
Uh, just some pop.
[chuckles]
-[man] Soda pop.
-[Ethan] Yes, sir.
You know, good old soda pop.
[man]
You wanna be careful
with that stuff.
All that caffeine.
I'd say a teenager
like yourself--
-And y'all are teenagers, right?
-Yes, Officer.
Hm. Teenager like yourself
ought to keep it to two
or three pops. Don't you agree?
Y'all here for spring break?
Uh, y-- yes, sir.
[officer]
Good for you.
Get out there and have fun.
A lot of people figure,
"Why bother?
I'm just gonna die anyway--"
Is there a reason you're
trespassing on private property?
[softly] What are you doing?
That's all right. I just wanted
to check on you kids.
I'll be out of your hair
in just a second.
I wanted to let you know that
there's been an explosion
up at the steel mill.
Other side of the mountain.
Nothing for you to worry about.
But we gotta warn folks,
and we don't have a phone number
for this place.
-Cool. Great. Bye.
-Whoa, whoa, is anyone hurt?
Uh, we don't know much yet.
Strange case.
This guy got pretty badly burned
and ran off.
Yeah, we're trying
to find him still,
but, ah,
he probably didn't get far.
Not with the shape
he must have been in.
What, what kind of shape?
Let me know
if you need anything at all.
I'll be checking up on you.
Yes, sir. Hey, thanks, Officer.
Oh, take it easy
with that soda pop, slick.
[Ethan chuckles]
Yeah, sure thing.
Do you think
he knew it was beer?
[Mandy making kissing sounds]
-What was that?
-I didn't hear anything.
-I think I ought to go
check it out.
-But why?
Uh, just to make sure
everything's okay.
Make sure what's okay?
The forest?
I think I really need to go
and check it out, all right?
But, Ben?
[scoffs]
Ben?
[sighs] Again?
[insects chirping]
[footsteps]
[husky breathing]
[sinister music]
[screams]
[breathing heavily]
[screams]
[gasping]
[gasping] The door!
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Who the fuck is that?
-Get the fucking door! Go!
-Now! [screams]
-[Nicole] What is that?
-What the fuck is happening?
-[both gasping]
-[Jamie] Mandy!
-[Nicole] Oh, my God.
-Who was that?
Who was that? Who was that?
-I don't know. I don't know.
-Where's Ben?
-[Ben] What happened?
-[Ethan] Some kind of psycho.
Nicole, get up, get up.
-[Nicole] What?
-[Mandy] Who the fuck is the--
-[Jamie] Nicole, the window.
Let's go.
Nicole, will you fucking go?
[Ethan]
Shh.
[breathes shakily]
-Is he gone?
-[Nicole] Is who gone?
So, um, there was this man,
and I was on the forest,
and he just came out
of the trees,
and so he was running after me.
I saw him. He was fucking, some
kind of fucking welding dude.
[Jamie]
Didn't the cops say
about the steel plant?
Should we just call the police?
[glass shatters]
[screams]
[choking]
[Ethan]
No!
[sinister music]
[Jamie]
She's going to die.
[gagging]
[coughs]
Okay...
-[Mandy] Don't.
-...everyone.
[thud]
[Ethan gasps]
Fuck!
[Nicole panting]
-[Ethan] Look at me.
-[gasping]
Look at me, look at me,
look at me, look at me.
Breathe. Breathe.
-What are we supposed to do?
-[Nicole gasping]
Wait.
This isn't right.
She okay?
Do you guys feel that?
What?
It's like...
...nothing.
[Ethan]
It's nothing.
It's nothing.
It's... nothing.
It's nothing.
[Nicole]
Can we do something about him?
-It's freaking me out.
-[Jamie] Yeah, what are we
supposed to do about it?
[Ben]
Should someone call the cops?
-[Nicole] I don't like that
his head is, like, over there.
-Yeah. Oh, yeah.
-[Jamie] If you don't like it,
tape his head back on.
-I'll, uh...
Can someone--
There's a, there's a house
half a mile down the road.
-Can someone...
-[Jamie] Yeah.
[sighs]
[insects chirping]
Hey, what's up? We gotta go.
[eerie music]
[Jamie]
I don't... feel like it.
[ominous tone]
Do you want me to go first or...
Hm.
What's on your back?
There's nothing on my back.
[eerie music]
[Ben]
Ethan?
[Ethan]
What happened?
[insects chirping]
[door closes]
Hey.
[exhales]
-Fucking unreal, right?
-Mm.
Do you think this is the guy
the cop was talking about?
Like, what happened to him?
I don't know.
Maybe he went crazy.
I used to think that...
...getting a personality
or whatever was like
your brain is this blank room
and you fill it with furniture.
Like, you go to Italy
and you put a couch in the room.
Or you go to college
and you get, like, a beanbag
chair or something, but...
...now I don't know.
Now I think it's more like...
...you're in a room...
...and all the lights are off,
and you're just...
...feeling around,
bumping into things...
...and things move,
and you're just...
...stumbling around.
Maybe he bumped
into a new couch.
A crazy couch.
[sinister music]
[RJ] All right, folks,
here we go again.
This is another request.
And surprise, surprise,
here it is, "If We Die Young."
...every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
[Ethan]
I tried the phone. It's no good.
[Mandy]
Did I sleep
for two hours or 20?
-Hey, babe. How'd you sleep?
-Okay.
-We made pancakes.
-Fuck's sake, Jamie.
She's not a child.
Mandy, it's been eight hours.
[chuckles] What do you mean?
It's noon.
But it's dark.
[Jamie]
I told you, she wasn't ready.
Don't worry about it, babe.
We are figuring it out.
...if we die young
We don't care if we--
[tense music]
[Mandy]
You okay?
[Nicole]
I'm all right. Thank you.
Okay, but, like, you sure?
God is good, Mandy.
Do you know what's happening?
What do you mean?
I mean, like...
where is the sun?
[snickers] Don't worry about it.
God has a plan.
It was all written long ago.
[Jamie]
I love you.
You're very important to me.
I just care about you
more than anybody else here.
[Nicole]
Don't worry about it.
Do you love me too?
[Mandy]
Of course I do.
So, if something happens...
...we're on the same team.
Nothing's gonna happen.
But... if something does.
-Are you scared of something?
-I'm just trying to protect you.
[Nicole]
Don't worry about it.
It was all written long ago.
God is good, Mandy.
I was gonna go for a walk.
[Jamie]
Cool.
Yeah.
[footsteps]
[insects chirping]
[Mandy]
It's like a script
for a movie about us.
-About us?
-[Mandy] I guess.
It's all in there.
It's got the guy,
Torch, I guess...
-[Ben clears throat]
-...and he is attacking me.
But then he kills Ethan,
and it gets different.
I think the rest of it was like
what was supposed to happen.
But there's other stuff.
Like, I keep seeing things.
Like, movie things.
Sorry. So, so you think
-all of this is just a movie?
-[Ethan sighs]
Okay, no. Just...
Ben...
...tell me about your dad.
-Uh-huh, okay. He's a social--
-Social worker.
-Tell me something else
about him.
-[Jamie] Stop it, Mandy.
Seriously. Like, anything.
About your mom,
or school, or other friends.
-Anything that we haven't
talked about here.
-I, I have a dad.
Ben...
...what's his name?
When did you have time
to write this?
I didn't write it.
It's not that
we don't believe you, sweetie.
-It's just--
-Wait, you think I wrote that?
When? With what typewriter?
Typewriter?
Guys, guys, listen to this.
"Ethan is
football-captain material.
Handsome." Okay.
"Arrogant, a jerk and a bully."
-Weird response
to a breakup, babe.
-Hey, I didn't write it.
"Like her boyfriend, Ethan,
Mandy is a stunner.
Sexy, fun, vivacious.
But underneath it all,
she's incapable of giving up
on what's right."
-And I'm arrogant.
-Okay, stop it.
"Jamie is a tough, sexy punk,
and she'll do what it takes
to survive."
Guys, I've got a great idea.
We're gonna have a reading.
We're gonna give
Mandy's masterwork
its first public performance.
-Fuck off, Ethan.
-[Ben] Come on, dude.
She said she didn't write it,
so she won't mind us
reading it, right?
Fine.
[insects chirping]
[Ethan]
Okay.
Hear ye, hear ye.
We will now have
our first reading
of the weird screenplay
of our lives
that Mandy wrote
for some reason.
All right, here we go.
"Dead Teenagers,"
which is a troubling title.
"Interior, bedroom, day.
We are looking down
at a big bed,
and it is Mandy,
18, young and sexy.
She gets up and dances,
shaking her ass to the music,
dancing into interior,
hallway, day.
She runs into her boyfriend,
Ethan, hot and arrogant.
He says, 'Who's that?
Seriously, who is that?'
And then Ethan gropes her ass."
-Don't touch me.
-[Ethan] Fine.
Then, uh, "God, baby,
that ass is unreal."
[sighs]
"I'll be having breakfast
if you decide
you want to become
a human being some time."
[Ethan] Um, let's get
to something good here.
Let's get to the blood, right?
Blood or tits?
I don't care which. [laughs]
"Do you think
dinner's gonna be awkward?"
"I think it is, buddy. Yeah."
"Beat."
Don't know how long that is.
-We can skip this bit.
-Oh, now you wanna skip stuff?
[Ethan sighs]
"What's...
...what's going down
with Nicole?
She's a fucking spicy glob
of wasabi."
Sorry.
Uh, the script says
I wheel around.
I don't know
what wheeling means. Um...
Um...
"Dude."
Okay, we got
an extra character here.
Who's gonna be Torch?
I guess I'll be the monster.
Great. [clears throat] Okay.
So "Torch has Ethan cornered,
and Ethan goes...
'Look, man,
just take whatever you want.
You want the girls?
Take the girls'."
Thanks for the vote
of confidence.
Okay, so, "Torch takes
one menacing step forward.
'No, please'." Another step.
[whimpers]
"Please don't hurt me."
Anybody got any last words
before I die?
Eat shit.
Okay.
"And Torch heaves his knife,
and he cuts Ethan's throat.
Great gouts of blood
bubble out of the seams
that has opened
in Ethan's windpipe."
Okay, man, you're a great actor.
We get it.
[gagging]
[sinister music]
[both screaming]
[Mandy]
Oh, my God!
[indistinct shouting, screaming]
[birds chirping]
[pebbles clutter]
[pebbles clutter]
[Nicole]
Lord, we thank you
for this, our cabin.
We thank you for the trees,
and the driveway,
and the remaining food,
and wherever
the electricity comes from,
and the warm beds,
the carpeted floors,
and the sky, and the lake.
We pray for patience.
We pray to endure this test,
this punishment, this test.
[muted]
Lord, I thank you
for your greatest blessing,
that we know ourselves.
I know who I am.
I know who I am.
I am a bride of Jesus.
-There's nobody listening,
you know?
-Then what makes the wind blow?
Fuck you is what.
[Ben]
I thought I should do this.
I thought Ben was the type
of guy who would do this.
And then I thought
maybe Ben is the type of guy
who would wait for someone
to tell him what to do.
Maybe Ben is just a mirror,
and that's why everybody
loves him so much.
-You are Ben.
-Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Nicole.
Benjamin.
Mandy.
Benjamin.
Benjamin.
Jamie.
Derek.
Becca.
-Louis, Ander--
-God, shut the fuck up.
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
[knock on door]
Someone there?
[Jamie]
Can we talk?
Just a sec.
[Jamie]
I think Nicole's okay,
but Ben...
[sighs] Well, you know,
he's sensitive.
Mm, yeah. [chuckles]
I think it would help, um...
...if we had some sort of sense
of what to do next...
...or how this would end.
It's a shame
you lost the script.
Yeah, sorry. [chuckles]
I panicked. I'm dumb.
Come on, you're not that dumb.
'Cause I was thinking...
...maybe there's some clue
in there about what to do next.
I mean... time started moving
again when Ethan died, right?
So, maybe...
I mean, maybe...
...that's how things work.
-Hm.
-Maybe that's how things
start moving again.
I'm just being practical.
Okay, how, how long
are we gonna sit here
until we start
considering other options?
-I don't know.
-I know you don't, babe. I know.
Listen... if you remembered
where the script was,
nobody would blame you.
It would just be like,
"Oh, I remembered."
And nobody would be mad.
And you wouldn't have to do
any of the messy stuff.
I'll take care of everything.
I'm sorry. I'm dumb.
[pensive music]
Where's Nicole?
[Ben]
Do you want me to go find her?
Just tell me if you see her.
[birds chirping]
[footsteps]
[indistinct chatter]
Something I can do
for you, babe?
[sighs]
[tense music]
Hey.
Hey, babe.
We need to talk.
Have a seat.
We know you have the script.
And I know you think
you're protecting us. I get it.
And that must be
a lot of pressure on you, right?
So why don't you just give it
to me and let me figure it out?
-Wouldn't that be easier?
-I wanna say something.
Um...
I know you all think
I've been acting difficult
or whatever, but, um...
You know, I just--
I think it's really shitty,
um, with the way you've all
been, like, conspiring.
-I-- I'm just trying
to keep you safe.
-We are safe, babe.
Don't call me that.
I'm not a baby.
-[Jamie] Where is it?
-Guys.
Where is it?
[snickers]
Go upstairs for a while, guys.
I'm gonna talk to her.
You're all grown up now, huh?
Where's the script?
Come on.
Same team.
Please give me
options here, babe.
[snickers]
I don't know how to do this...
-...without hurting you.
-[gasps]
[grunts]
[tense music]
[scoffs]
[grunting]
[birds chirping]
[Ben]
Jamie?
What are you doing?
I love you...
...and...
...you're very important to me.
[Jamie breathing shakily]
I wanted to make sure that...
...nothing happens to you
when you're sleeping.
I wanted you
to be... comfortable.
I wanted you to be safe.
I found the script.
Did you know that we're in love?
We fall in love
at the end of the movie,
when everyone else is dead.
It's actually... [sobs]
It's actually
a nice little speech.
[sobs] I can't wait to hear it.
I am gonna do
whatever it takes...
...to get us out of here.
You're so beautiful.
[sobbing]
[sinister music]
[breathing heavily]
[door opens, creaks]
-[Nicole] Oh, my God.
-[Ben] Holy shit. Mandy.
What happened?
[Jamie] She's fine.
I'm fine.
[Ben]
What did you do?
Don't look at me like that.
Stop it.
-He kills you in the shower.
Did you know that?
-[Nicole] What?
[Mandy]
You have this big speech,
and he gets you.
When you were naked,
alone and afraid,
he does horrible things to you.
Nicole will read Mandy's part.
[sighs] Here.
We talked about this, remember?
[Ben inhales deeply,
exhales shakily]
Now, Ben.
"I can't believe
he's really dead."
"You need to
pull yourself together."
"He was my best friend
my entire life."
No, no.
You need to be more... intense.
He was my best friend
for my entire life.
[Jamie]
"Ben suddenly stands.
He says, 'What was that?'"
"What was that?"
-"Suddenly a car door slams."
-[car door slams]
-[Ben] Help us, please! Please!
Can you help us? Please.
-[Nicole] Excuse me, Officer.
-Officer, please.
-Calm down. Why don't
you tell me what happened?
Okay. Um, there is
this kind of welder guy
-who died, and--
-[Ben] We didn't kill him.
-[Nicole] No, no. He fell.
-[Ben] We didn't kill him.
We've been stuck here,
and our, our friend is hurt,
-and our other friend is dead.
-Are you saying
there's some kind of monster?
-No, he, he died.
-Sir, calm down.
That's why I'm here.
Uh-huh. And then what?
-What is he doing?
-I'm not...
If there's any danger here,
I'll take care of it.
That's why I got this baby.
Now, why don't you...
Stop right there!
Not one more step, sir!
I'm warning you!
[dramatic music]
-[Nicole] What is he doing?
-[grunts]
[Jamie]
The fight scene.
[dramatic music]
[grunts]
See you in hell, monster.
[sinister music]
[grunts]
[muffled scream]
[both grunting]
-She, she probably--
-It doesn't... matter.
-Nicole, Page 68.
-[Ben sighs]
[sighs] You've got a big scene
coming up.
Okay, so I'm sitting
next to her at the bar.
Nicole, you are facing the bar.
I am facing out.
Uh, this is where
you talk about your past.
It's after the escape
by the road,
and you find the body
in the truck.
We're both exhausted
and vulnerable,
-and you open up
about what happened.
-What?
-What happened.
-[Nicole] What happened?
[Jamie]
What happened happened.
-[Nicole] No, I mean--
-[Jamie] I know what you mean.
[suspenseful music]
[Nicole]
What, we can't skip one scene?
Not this scene.
I-- it's just--
It's not relevant.
It comes
completely out of nowhere,
and it doesn't affect anything.
I'm not even gay.
Well, if you don't read it,
we will.
I... [sighs]
Please.
She's right.
We've come this far.
[Jamie]
Ben, you'll read for Nicole.
[suspenseful music]
[Jamie]
Okay, so I say,
"Hard to believe that yesterday
we were five kids,
just like anyone."
-[Ben] Do I have to read it
like Nicole?
-[Jamie] No.
"We just had
to keep it together, beat.
You know,
when that monster had me,
all I could think about
was that day."
"What day?"
"I had this girl over
from class to study.
I don't know what happened.
We ended up kissing,
and that's when--"
When my dad came home.
[dramatic music]
Keep going.
[indistinct whispering]
"He yelled and he threw things
and grabbed me by the hair.
-After that, he, uh..."
-After that, he,
he made me read
the Bible every day.
And when I,
when I got something wrong,
he'd make me put
my hands on the ground
and he would stand on them.
And he was, you know,
he was big.
[indistinct, scrambled voices]
[tense music]
He never broke my fingers.
He was careful.
But sometimes he would put
his knee on my back
and pull my hair so it felt like
it was breaking, and I...
[sobs]
[screaming]
[RJ] All right,
ladies and gentlemen, I am,
I am very confused right now.
I don't really know
what's going on,
but, um, let's, uh,
let's listen to another song.
Here we go. "If We Die Young."
[Jamie sighs]
[unzips fly]
[pulls down pants]
[Jamie]
Step out.
Good boy.
[Ben sobbing]
[music playing faintly]
Arm.
[sighs]
Just like that.
We're gonna have to pretend
you're about to take a shower.
This will be the shower curtain.
"Nicole stands in the bathroom.
We admire her young body."
[sobs]
"From outside, we hear
the heavy footsteps of Torch
as he approaches the bathroom
and slowly opens
the creaking door."
[music playing faintly]
"Suddenly, Torch grabs
the shower curtain
and wraps it around her."
[sighs]
[music playing faintly]
And I guess he...
...puts the blowtorch
in her mouth...
[music playing faintly]
...and lights it.
Click.
[mimics blowtorch whooshing]
Did it work?
[music playing faintly]
[sinister music]
[chuckles]
See?
[music playing faintly]
It's working.
We just have to do
one more thing...
...and then it will be
you and me.
Jamie, please.
I can't.
[Ben shudders]
I am doing this... for you.
[music playing faintly]
[slow electronic music]
[sinister music]
[metal clanks]
[Ben softly]
There's nothing left.
Please, please, please, Jamie.
[whimpers, sobs]
I need to be sure.
[sobbing]
I'm so sorry, Mandy.
[Ben]
Please, please, no.
[sobbing] Please!
[motor whirring]
Please! [sobs]
[crying] Please!
[slow instrumental music]
Jamie.
[sobbing]
[sinister music]
[exhales]
Don't do it. Don't do it.
Please, Jamie.
Jamie. Jamie.
-[exhales loudly]
-Jamie!
[motor whirring]
I don't wanna die.
You don't have to do this.
Jamie!
-[screaming]
-[squelching]
[typewriter clacking]
[RJ]
Ladies and gentlemen,
let's see what we got here.
Another request coming in.
This is...
Seriously?
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
[pleasant music]
There is no one else for me.
I know we have
a pretty good group of friends.
We've all dated each other
at one point or another.
And I love you all. [chuckles]
But, Becca...
...I love you especially.
I can't imagine this
going any other way.
I love you,
and there is nothing
in this universe
that could change that.
[chuckles]
Um... [clears throat]
I guess I have a hard time
trusting people...
...but you...
and all you guys
gave me time and space.
And I'm not really religious,
but I thank God
that I met you guys.
And, Derek, I love you.
I am you and you are me.
By the power vested in me by me,
I hereby pronounce you
husband and wife.
[Becca]
We were thinking about
moving out of the city,
but it kind of feels like
we're a little young?
-Hm.
-Oh, and I'd miss my church,
the community and everything.
-Our church.
-Right.
-[chuckles]
-You okay, babe?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm just gonna...
[laughter]
[door opens]
Hey, Jake.
You all right?
We're missing you downstairs.
[Jake]
Hey.
I'm good. I'm fine.
Yeah. You sound
very good and fine. [snickers]
Well, hurry down.
[Jake]
Hey, Mandy.
Tell Becca I love her.
[gunshot]
[clacking]
["If We Die Young"
by Erin Bednarz]
[clacking]
[distorted] You wake up
every day is the same
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
So just go crazy, baby
Lose your head
The sun won't rise
until somebody's dead
-Morning!
-[Nicole] Hey!
-Hey!
-I was just saying this
has to be some kind of record.
Every single one of us
getting into Notre Dame.
Yeah. Maybe we can all
move in together or something.
-Oh.
-I love you.
-Love you too, bitch.
-[all] Aww.
[clacking]
[pleasant music]
[muted]
You are so perfect.
I can't believe you exist.
[both laugh]
Stop. [laughs]
-Ask me why I'm dancing.
[chuckles]
-I know why you're dancing.
I think it's gonna happen today.
He asked me to go
for a walk with him,
and he said it
all fake casual, like...
..."You wanna go for a walk?"
-[both chuckle]
-Just like that.
I'm really happy for you two.
He's a great guy.
Obviously,
you're my maid of honor.
I'm gonna make you wear a skirt.
Aww.
I'd rather eat glass.
[laughs]
So hot that you can
just, like, do that. [chuckles]
Shut up.
[pleasant music]
[muted]
[all screaming]
[Jamie]
Have you given any thought
what you want it to be?
Oh, I don't know. [laughs]
Probably something,
like, simple.
I mean, I just...
Maybe, like, a courthouse thing.
-I just wanna live
in the moment, you know?
-Mm.
-I'm so happy for you.
-[chuckles]
Have you ever been so happy
for someone else
you feel like you could explode?
[chuckles]
Hey, whose wedding is this?
[laughs] No, seriously.
Have you ever been so happy
that you feel like,
like nothing can hurt you?
I, I don't know what you mean.
Oh, I wish I could describe it.
It is the best feeling
in the world.
Actually...
...this bottle, right?
If I smash this on the table...
Jesus, psycho.
I could do this
and not be hurt at all.
-[thud]
-[laughing]
-[screams]
-["If We Die Young"
playing distortedly]
[shower running]
[distorted]
You wake up every day...
[screams]
None of these people
even know your name
Beautiful girl
you always do what's right
But beautiful girl
you're going out tonight
[birds chirping]
[door opens]
-Guys.
-Mandy.
[Jamie]
Hey, girl.
[Ben]
We've been waiting for you.
-Everything's great now.
-[Jamie sighs]
-[all gushing]
-Oh, you're so soft.
-I like this scrunchie.
-[Ben laughs]
[birds chirping]
[all laughing]
[Mandy]
Are you scared of something?
[dramatic music]
[clacking]
[laughter]
[Jamie]
I'm just trying to protect you.
[laughter]
[Mandy]
You're erasing me.
[laughter]
[screams]
[laughter]
[clacking]
Hey.
What are you doing?
What am I holding in my hand?
Nothing.
There's a knife in my hand.
No, t-- there's not.
-[slashes]
-[gasps]
[screaming]
[screaming]
[insects chirping]
[director]
Okay, camera left.
That would be great.
If we can...
Uh, sound,
are you guys ready to go?
'Cause I don't, I don't wanna
sit around waiting around,
like, ten minutes for you to...
Okay, so you're set?
Like, you're ready
to go on "action"?
Okay, great. Cool.
Well...
Jazz, I better not see the logo
on those chips.
I don't wanna have to blur that
in post, okay?
Okay, so remember that
what you're doing here
is a gift, okay?
This is the only way out
for you and your friends.
It's a gift, all right, so--
Can, can we please...
All right, let's get slate in.
Scene 126. Charlie, take.
[director] Okay, we only got
one take of this.
Let's settle. And action.
[insects chirping]
Okay, let's cue music playback.
[slow instrumental music]
[muted]
[pleasant instrumental music]
[crying]
You're living in a disco
A movie is not life
Your real life
is evaporating around you
Even in this moment
Joy, happiness, love
comfort and safety
Are bubbles
blown by an ignorant child
Drifting for a moment
in the bliss of existence
Fashion, lights
Paris, lights
-Mandy
-And she says
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
Choose fantasy
The real world is a trap
designed by a demon
Not a test designed by a god
There is no heaven
there is no pot of gold
There are no 72 virgins
And even if there were
that is way too many virgins
Poison cup
Just give up
Mandy
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We don't care
if we die young
We're gonna live
forever tonight
The stories we tell
tell us who we are
There is no other way
of knowing
Your eyes lie to you
Your mind lies to you
Your urges lie to you
Your loved ones lie to you
Tell yourself who you are
And believe it
as hard as you can
Shut the doors
Lock the windows
Call yourself a hero
and make sure
There is nobody around
to contradict you