The Graduates (2023) Movie Script
1
[uneasy muted chords]
[footsteps clacking]
[uneasy muted chords
continue]
[distant overlapping chatter]
[chatter grows louder]
[soft, light music]
- Have a good one.
[electronic ding]
- Morning, guys.
I'm glad you're here.
We're gonna work on our
college application essays.
Don't forget to write about
yourself, who you truly are.
Don't try to be fake or phony.
You know, just say
who you sincerely are
as a human being and a person.
Write about, um, what
college you want to get into.
But also, don't forget
to write about
if this college accepts you,
why you would
enhance that college
and why they would be
happy to have you, too.
- Have you thought about what
you want to do next year?
- I'm taking a gap year.
I don't know.
I just need a break.
- Yeah.
I think that you should
apply to schools anyway.
You never know
how you're gonna feel
at the end of the year.
You know, getting through
the first year mark,
that's a really big deal.
So you can exhale for
a minute,
'cause you've almost
done that.
Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- But I feel like
it's really hard
to know where you want to go,
because if you don't get in,
then you're like
a public failure.
- Yeah, but you're
gonna get in, so you
won't have that problem.
- You don't know that.
- I just think
it's better than not knowing.
Then you can always just
choose where you want to
live and go from there.
- So who cares if you
don't go next year, anyway?
It's pay to win--you could be
like 100 years old
and still not go
whenever you want.
- And I don't want
to pay to win.
- Well...
- Also, what if I get in
just 'cause I'm a "Lewis" kid?
I don't want that.
Like, I don't want that
to be a whole part of my--
- Your entire being?
- Yes, exactly.
Thank you.
- [chuckles]
- [laughs] OK, OK.
No, that's not fair!
[laughter]
[laughs]
- All right.
[sneakers squeak on floor]
- Hey.
- [laughs] All right.
Bring it in, bring it in,
bring it in.
Bring it in, bring it in.
[applause]
Really, really good
intensity, boys.
Let's bring that same energy
back here tomorrow, all right?
Austin, take us out.
- Hey, Lewis on three.
One, two, three!
- Lewis!
[applause]
- Robbie.
- Yeah, Coach?
- What's up?
Are you all right?
- Um, Mara and I broke up.
- I'm sorry.
- She's trying to
stay friends,
but it's just complicated.
You know?
- Yeah.
Listen, do something
fun tonight, OK?
See some friends.
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- Yeah, Coach.
- [sighs]
[bell tolling]
- You know,
when I speak to the students,
I'm so impressed
with how they're
taking care of each other
and how they're coming
together with the faculty
and the members
of the community.
We are all grieving with you.
The entire country
is grieving with you.
And I know that we've all
been mourning and grieving
every day since the loss
of six beautiful lives
to a horrific act of violence
one year ago.
One year.
It's hard to imagine that--
that that is a measurable
amount of time at all, right?
One year.
But I promise you something.
The demands of everyday life
will intrude again.
Some of you may go off
to college in the fall.
The seasons
are going to change,
and the sun is going to rise.
And all we'll have left
is each other.
- Look who I found.
- Hi.
- Hey.
- Um...when, uh,
when'd you get here?
- Oh, last week.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Holidays?
- Yeah, something like that.
That's right.
- Are you hungry?
- I'm hungry, and we haven't
seen you in forever,
so let's go get some food.
Come on.
- Let's go.
- Are you serious?
- She just dropped it
on me, like, once.
- [laughs]
Your mom's so funny.
- Yeah.
- Ready?
- To Tyler!
[laughter]
- I mean, he legitimately
loved chicken nuggets.
- You know what else
he loved, though?
- Inside Out.
- Inside Out.
- Jinx. You owe me a Coke.
- Lily thought that was
the greatest film of all time.
- Oh, yeah.
- Oh.
- It kind of is, though.
- Are you kidding me?
- Hmm.
- [murmurs].
- So Ben, how do you
like your new school?
- Oh, uh, it's good.
It's just different, you know?
So...
- I mean, our basketball team
sucks ass without you.
- Yeah.
You still playing at
Jefferson, by the way?
- No, I don't...
[chuckles]
I don't--
I don't do that anymore.
- OK.
Milkshakes on me.
Who's in?
- OK.
- Got it?
- I'll help you carry them.
- Yeah, OK.
[pop music in background]
- [small laugh]
You OK?
- You ready to go?
- I'll walk you home.
- Oh.
- If that's cool.
- Yeah, yeah. Sure.
- I'm thinking about taking
a road trip this summer.
- Really?
Where would you go?
- Mm-mm.
It could be anywhere--
Louisiana, Georgia,
Tennessee, Yellowstone,
Houston.
- Tyler always wanted
to go to Yellowstone.
- Yeah.
We always talked about
doing a road trip together.
I just feel guilty
taking it without him.
You don't feel that?
- What do you mean?
- I don't know.
- Yeah, I, um, I felt bad
getting my license.
- Yeah, and, like,
celebrating my birthday.
- Yeah.
- Just waking up
every morning,
it's like he's supposed to
be here.
[sighs]
- So did it help?
- What?
- Transferring.
- Oh...
[light laugh]
About that, uh...
I, um...
I dropped out.
- What! Why?
- One of my teachers told me
I could just study for my GED
instead of coming to school,
so I was like, all right.
I'm out.
- What, so you--so you're
like really back then
for good?
- Yeah, yeah.
Got my old job at
Canella's and everything.
You know, I'm just gonna
take care of my moms for now.
Everybody
been taking care of me, so...
I hope that's OK.
- No, no.
Yeah, that's good.
And um...I'm glad you're here.
- [chuckles]
Hmm.
- [inhales, exhales]
[soft, stirring music]
- Thanks.
- Got you.
I got you.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Yeah.
- That's-that's--thank you.
- Of course.
- OK.
So you toasted the almonds?
- Yeah, I toasted the almonds.
- So throw those in
the bowl with the parsley.
- Throw almonds in the bowl
[spoon scraping]
with the parsley.
- OK?
- OK.
- And the garlic.
- Add garlic.
Hold on.
- OK.
All right, now
we're gonna set that aside
and let it chill,
and when the pasta's done,
we're gonna toss it.
And voila. Easy.
- Let it chill--my favorite
culinary technique.
- John, you know,
if you move to Houston,
we can make these
kind of recipes together.
- I love you.
Can we talk about this later?
I love you.
- John, the water!
The water!
Behind you.
- Shit, shit.
Ow! Jesus!
[huffs]
All right.
I'm sorry. I better go.
[child laughs]
Hey!
You're supposed to be in bed!
You're supposed
to be in bed!
- Love you!
- Bye. [kiss]
- Bye. Good night.
- Good night.
[soft chime]
[sighs]
- All right.
I'm outta here.
Make sure everything's
done, all right?
- [sighs]
[whispering] Ah, fuck!
[traffic noise]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
- Um...
Uh...
hey, buddy.
Thinking about you
extra today.
Missing you.
Yeah, you wouldn't believe
how nasty Vince has gotten
in his old age.
You're lucky you don't
got to deal with that shit.
Not that it was any better
than when you were here.
He's still the same
old asshole, I guess.
[distant clattering
in background]
I guess I'll talk
to you later, man.
Bye.
Love you.
[overlapping chatter]
- We know technology
has put the world forward
in many, many ways.
We have to see the converse
effects of that also.
You know, we can't
Auto-Tune humanity.
We can't let technology
become between us
feeling and seeing and
loving each other, all right?
So for this weekend, try this.
Go home, turn off your phone.
Walk over to
your friend's house,
knock on the door, and sit
down and have a conversation
eye-to-eye and face-to-face.
[electronic chime]
[chiming]
Gen, how you doing?
- Good.
How are you?
- This is the last
four assignments
you haven't got done.
Can you kinda
the best effort in
and try to get these done
by Monday,
over the weekend, please?
It's really important.
You need to get this done
for your education.
I know you can do it.
Can you make this
a priority, please?
- Yeah. Uh, yeah.
I can.
- All right, good.
- For sure.
Thank you.
- All right. Be safe.
All right?
- Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
[door hinges squeak]
[microwave beeps]
- [sighs]
- Gen?
What is that?
- Nothing.
- Genevieve.
- I fucked up, OK?
I fucked up my only chance
to get out of here,
so you can punish me
however you want.
[paper rustles]
- I don't want to punish you.
I want you to talk to me.
- I do talk to you.
- No, you don't talk to me.
- Yes, I do!
- Look, I--
[sighs]
I think that we make
a really good team together,
don't you?
- Yes. I know that, Mom.
- OK. So...
What do you think about
the two of us
going and talking
to somebody together?
- Mom, I have my friends
to talk to.
I don't have to talk to some,
like, random stranger.
- It's not a random stranger.
It's somebody...
- It's the same thing!
- Who understands
what you're going through
and can help--
- No one understands
what I'm going through!
- Well, w-w-when you talk
to your friends, do you--
do you talk about
everything that
you guys have been through?
- No!
That's the point, Mom!
No one knows
how to talk about it.
[sighs]
- [sighs]
I just want you to have
an easier life than I did.
- OK. So now what?
Are you disappointed?
Well, join the fucking club.
Thank you, Mom.
- [sighs]
[paper rustles]
- [sighs]
[distant insects chirping]
[uneven breathing]
[inhales]
[distant insects chirping]
[soft guitar music]
- Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Everyone
Keeps asking about you
They wanna know
How can I be
Without...
[engine starts]
[gentle music]
[no sound]
[music continues]
[sneakers squeak on floor]
[background chatter]
- Switch that.
Good eye.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- Let's try
better next time.
Here you go.
- Thank you.
Nice job.
Genevieve, nice job.
- Thank you.
- What's up, Ben?
Ben!
[laughs]
- No shit!
- [laughs]
- Oh! Hey, Ms. Vicki.
How you doing?
- Oh, my God!
Oh, you're a sight
for sore eyes.
Ben, this is a Orien.
- Oh.
Hey, buddy.
- Can you say hi, Ben?
- Hi, Ben.
- [laughs] How's Jefferson?
- Oh, um...
I'm, uh, actually going
to get my GED this summer.
- Well, I hope you can
make it to graduation.
- Oh, yeah.
I'm thinking about it.
- You know,
if you're planning on taking
your GED this summer, then you
might as well finish by May.
That way you can
walk with your class.
It would probably mean
a lot to your old teachers.
I know it would mean
a lot to me.
- OK.
I'll think about that.
Thank you, Ms. V.
- I'm gonna save a cap
and gown for you, OK?
- [chuckles]
[pop music]
- Oh, my God.
I can't believe
you still have this!
- You want it?
- No, this's definitely yours.
- The night
was a complete disaster.
- Yeah. I mean, everything
that could have
possibly gone wrong
went wrong.
- Yeah.
You're right about that one.
- Do you still talk to Jeff?
- What do you think?
- Hmm.
Did you date anybody
at Jefferson?
- Yeah.
- Tell me about her.
- Hell, no.
- Oh, come on!
- No. I'm--
I'm not doing it.
- Why?
- 'Cause there's
nothing to talk about.
- Please?
- No.
- We could just, like,
sit here in silence...
- No, I-I--
- I guess.
No, it's fine.
I can go a long time.
- Fine.
[whispering] Oh,
you're so fucking annoying.
- I know.
- Um...where do I start?
- From the beginning.
- OK. Um...
her name was Gabby.
- Hmm.
- She was really pretty.
- Hmm.
- Senior.
- Nice.
- And, um...
she was in
my sports medicine class.
That's how we met.
Shit. I don't know.
She was, um...
she's great with people.
But I guess I was just
a lot, so...
that's that.
[pop music continues
in background]
[soft, moody music]
- [laughs] We're those
obnoxious spring breakers,
aren't we?
- Those houses are nice.
- Oh, yeah.
- Those ones right there?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I like that one.
No, no, no, no.
- This one?
- That one.
[indistinct chatter]
- What time?
[laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, chatter]
- Why would you say that?
- You've been away for too
long to make that joke.
- I know.
You shouldn't say that.
- Ah, it's right there.
- Oh.
- Man, so you were
saying, like--
- No. Wait.
Wait. Beck.
- Becker.
- Becker!
Becker!
- Cannonball!
[water splashes]
- Becker!
[laughter]
That is so terrible!
- You just screwed yourself
over.
- Why?
- You just did.
- What? He can't get me.
- He's way faster than you.
- He can't get--no, he can't.
He's not!
- Becker, I'm coming for you.
[laughter]
- You better not ruin
my Zen right now.
[laughter]
[indistinct chatter]
- Guys, I'm getting,
like, kind of wrinkly.
I think that's my cue.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- All wrinkly.
[birds chirping]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
- Hey, man.
This is stupid.
I know you won't get this,
but, um, somehow, you--
you might.
Look, it's, uh,
it's just been really hard
doing this without you.
I feel like you deserve
this way more than I do.
[chatter]
[basketball players shouting]
- Move it. Move it!
[basketball players shouting]
- Aw!
[cheering]
- Come on!
Let's go, let's go.
[players shouting]
[buzzer blares]
[players shouting]
- Forget tonight.
Didn't happen.
Don't take it
home with you, OK?
We got one more game left.
We're gonna bring
the whole school out,
and we're gonna make 'em
proud.
All right?
- Yes, Coach.
- All right?
- Yes, Coach!
- All right.
Austin, take us out.
- Hey, Lewis on three.
One, two, three.
- Lewis!
- All right.
Come here.
[chatter]
[pop music]
- You say you never
go far
You talk of
nothing going on
But this time
Oh, this time
This time
Oh, this time
- See you there.
I gotta go.
Katie.
- Hi.
- Are you guys gonna make it?
- Uh...
- It'd mean a lot
to Coach, so...
- Yeah, we'll be there.
- OK.
- Also, congrats, Romie.
- Thanks.
[murmuring]
[both laugh]
- OK.
- Basketball kids are weird.
[both giggling]
- They make cute fires,
though.
- Oh, my gosh.
That was so sweet.
- I'll see you later, OK?
- Take this one.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How are you?
- I'm good.
Are you coming?
- Yeah.
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm gonna come.
- Great. Great.
We miss you.
- I know.
I'm sorry.
- Oh, no.
I didn't mean it--
- No, I know.
But I-I'm gonna
be there for sure.
- Good.
I'm-I'm so glad.
- Um, so I'll--
I'll see you there.
Yeah?
- OK.
- OK.
- OK, bye.
[phone buzzes]
[chatter]
- Yeah, I can't
do this right now.
I will pick you up later,
yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- Cool.
- Bye.
- Bye.
See ya.
- [sighs]
- Are you having a good time?
- Oh, shit.
Is that my
motherfucking brother?
- What the hell's
going on, bro?
- Hey, man.
- How you doing?
Hey, I'm gonna catch up
with you, a'ight?
- All right.
- Get in here, bro!
- Oh, my God.
Hey, Ben!
This is Fiona.
She's a sophomore.
- Hey.
Nice to meet you.
- This is Ben.
He's an absolute legend
at Lewis.
- Oh, really?
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
Listen, listen, listen,
listen.
- [laughs]
- My boy--my boy here took us
to the state championship
two years in a row!
[laughter]
So come on!
- We have to get a picture.
- Get in here.
Get in here.
- Oh my gosh.
- All right, ready?
Three, two, one.
Oh!
- Ooh!
- That's so cute.
That's so cute!
- Aw!
Oh, my God!
[laughs]
- All right.
Hey, we'll see ya.
- All right, bye, guys.
[laughs]
- Yo, Fiona wants you, dog!
Hey, you should definitely
get on that, man.
- Hey, man,
come on right now.
- Come on.
Let's get you a beer, bro.
- No, you go ahead.
- No? Come on, come on.
Just one, bro,
for old time's sakes.
Come on.
Come on!
[low chatter, laughter]
- Come on, now.
Come on, now.
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter]
- Hey, man. Hey.
Listen, listen, listen.
I just miss this shit, bro.
Goddamn, we still
have to see you, man.
Hey, hey.
- Romie!
- Hey!
[mellow music]
- [laughs] Hi.
- I was waiting for you guys.
- I know. I'm sorry.
[indistinct chatter]
Is it gonna be wild in here?
[laughs]
- Well, go crazy, guys.
- You know what,
I'm gonna be right back.
[chatter]
- [laughs]
- Oh. [coughs] Oh, shit.
Hey, uh, we--
we're gonna to, uh,
Kendrick's house in a minute.
You...you wanna come?
- Do you want me to come?
- Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- I'm going home.
- Gen, Gen.
Come on, come on.
The night is fresh.
Please, don't make me
[muttering]
- Just stop!
Where did you go?
- I'm right here!
- I'm not talking
about right now.
I'm talking about
the last year.
You didn't call me
after you left!
OK, you give me this
feeling like you could
just drop me
at any point in time
and it doesn't matter for you.
You're doing it right now.
- Listen, I'm--
I'm fucked up.
- No.
- You don't get to do that.
- Do what?
- You don't get to act like
your pain is more than mine!
- Gen--
- You don't get to act like
you're hurting more than me!
You don't get to do that!
[moody music]
- Fuck!
[whispering]
Fuck, fuck.
Yeah, yeah.
[inaudible]
[soft, moody music]
[softly] Oh, my--
[sniffling]
[birds chirping]
[soft, emotional music]
- We're getting down to the
final end of the school year
with only a few weeks to go.
I don't want you guys to start
getting senioritis, all right?
I just want you guys to start
what you finished.
We're almost to
the mountaintop.
Just keep on climbing.
Don't give up, OK?
- Sorry.
- Congrats.
- Now coming up, we have
our last assignment.
And since we're
studying the Greeks,
I thought this would be
an apropos question
towards the end here
of school.
Socrates said "an unexamined
life is not worth living."
So our last assignment to be:
to write an essay
[alarm blares]
about what our life--
oh, it's just a drill.
It's just a drill.
Head towards the door, please.
Head towards the door.
It's just a drill.
Good job.
Here we go.
[alarm blares]
[muffled gunshots]
[muted alarm echoes]
[muted echoing shouts]
[shouting continues, fades]
[uneasy muted chords]
- Is everything
all right with you?
- Yeah.
[background chatter]
- Hey, why didn't you
tell me what happened?
- What are you talking about?
- Between you and Ben.
- [chuckles] Nothing happened.
- [laughs]
You are the worst liar!
- OK, well,
if you know
everything already,
then why are you
even asking me?
Like, I don't have to
tell you everything
that happens to me in my life.
- Yeah--
like, you don't have to.
- Why didn't you tell me
you got into school?
- That's different.
- Why?
- 'Cause...
I don't--
I don't know, OK?
It just--it is.
I love you.
I just--I couldn't tell you.
- "To picture
is not to remember.
"As a recollection
becomes actual,
"it comes to live in an image,
but the converse is not true.
"And the image,
pure and simple,
"will not be referred
to the past
unless, indeed, it was in
the past that I sought it."
- Bergson's text
is so significant
for a number of reasons,
including the idea
that memory is not simply
a mechanical reproduction
of the past
but more like an image
coming into focus.
Without memory, life is quite
literally devoid of meaning.
[electronic chime]
Everyone bring their
cameras up to the front.
And please, remember to
clean your cubbies out.
I will throw out anything
that's left behind.
- You have to promise me that
you won't stop doing this,
even in college.
- You don't have to
worry about that.
I didn't get in anywhere.
- NYU?
Oh.
Well, that's their loss.
- Yeah. Well, now,
I don't know what's next.
- Just because somebody knows
what college they're going to
doesn't mean they know
what's happening next.
We're all going
into the unknown.
We just have to
keep moving forward.
[soft, moody music]
[tentative notes]
[quiet chords]
[soft, emotional music]
- [sighs]
- What's this?
- Everybody has one.
They use it to get
into the school,
and then you can get
into all your classes.
- Damn, that's crazy.
- Yup.
- So does it feel any safer?
- You know
it's still there, right?
- What?
- The 1,100 [inaudible].
- Mm-mm.
Mm-mm.
No, I didn't--hmm.
[sniffling]
I didn't know that.
You know, um...
you were right
about the other night.
I don't know what
you were going through.
- No, I didn't
mean it like that. I--
- I wasn't there!
I wasn't there, OK?
And I--
I just keep
thinking about it like,
how come I missed that day?
Out of all the days,
I skipped that day,
and I should have
been there, you know?
I-I felt like
I could have went
to the bathroom, or--
or--or I could have
saw something in the hallways.
I could have
done something, Gen!
- Slow down.
Look at me.
- I c--
- OK? Look at me.
- I could have done
something, Gen.
- Look at me.
[sniffling]
- I'm glad you weren't there.
OK?
- [moans]
It's OK.
It's OK, come here.
- [whimpers, gasps]
- It's OK.
- [sobs] I'm sorry.
- It's OK.
- [sobs] I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
- I know.
- I'm so sorry.
I don't--
- I know.
- [sniffs, crying]
I don't know anymore.
- It's OK.
- [sobs]
- I know.
It's OK.
[whispering] It's OK.
[sobs]
[soft gasps]
[sobbing]
[gasping]
[sobbing]
[gasping]
[sobs]
[somber music]
- You'll be in a group
with kids your age.
Um, we sit in a circle,
um, just like this.
And we say our name, who died,
how our person died.
And there's always
a question of the night,
just depending on
what we're doing.
I really, um, feel like the
sharing place can help you,
um, not only to, um,
be with other kids
that are experiencing
some of the--
a lot of the same emotions
that you're-you're feeling,
but also for you, Maggie.
The parent group is wonderful,
because you get to work
partly on your grief
and then also, um, you know,
the other parents
will, um, also
be talking about
what's happening
in their home
with their child,
and you just learn
a lot of, um, different ways
to help her at home, so...
- My name's Ruby.
My dad died, um,
from an aortic dissection.
- Um, my name is Genevieve.
My boyfriend, Tyler, died.
And he was shot with
a gun at our school.
- All right.
Our check-in question tonight.
Um, we want to talk
about big feelings.
Um, so let's talk about--
the question I want you to
answer when you're ready
is, what is a big moment
that you anticipate
coming up in your life
where you're really gonna
miss your person?
- Yeah, I can go.
Um, so my grandpa loved the
idea of me going to college.
It's something
that he never did,
and he was one of
the most excited
people when we found out
that I was going to college.
So I think, you know,
the idea of passing
my first exam
and graduating college at some
point and moving on from it,
it's these things
I don't get to experience
with him anymore.
So it's just--it just
feels sad not to have him
in that part of my life.
- Um...
I graduate next week.
And...he is supposed to
be graduating with me,
and he's not.
So I think that's something
I'm really gonna miss him for.
- Yeah, I guess just getting
advice and knowing what to do.
Like, I haven't even
started dating yet,
but I think he'd be good.
Like, oh, Ruby, don't date
that guy 'cause he's scary.
So, you know,
[light laughter]
it'd be nice to
have that sort of, like,
just protection, I guess.
Yeah.
- You're saying his
protection, his advice,
even just his presence.
- Yes.
- Things are different
without him there.
- So much different.
- He's sometimes--
it feels like he--
he's angry, but I don't
know what he's angry at.
- OK.
- You know?
And is he gonna hurt himself?
Do I need to stay up all night
and make sure he's OK?
Like, those are
the things that I have
a hard time with, because
you just can't gauge that.
Because it's so--
they won't open up.
He won't open up to me.
- I think I asked him
to do a British accent
'cause he
never would do that.
And for the first time,
he did it, and he was like,
[British accent]
what's wrong with being sexy?
[laughter]
And then we watched,
like, a bunch of videos
about "Spinal Tap" and
"Best in Show" and stuff.
- I feel like our funny
stories of our person
often have a really good
insight into who they were.
Um, people often ask me
what my mom was like,
and I say, let me
tell you this story.
I came home from
a date one night,
and my parents
had waited up for me.
And my dad,
as I walked in the door,
said,
"You were out pretty late.
That boy better not
have been kissing you."
And my mom smacked him
and said,
"If he had out that late,
he'd better have kissed you."
[laughter]
"Come in and tell me
about it."
And I just love that I
was so safe with her.
And she knew that--um,
but she was so funny.
So I feel like telling these
stories about our people
really help people connect
with them, and I love that.
- He loved chicken nuggets
more than anything
I've ever seen in my life.
I mean, it was crazy,
like, unreasonable.
And one time, I caught him
keep going to his backpack,
and I didn't know why,
and he had a little bag
of chicken nuggets
in his backpack
that he was eating while
we were eating dinner,
because he didn't want to
eat the, like, asparagus
or whatever my mom made.
And I feel like that kind
of sums him up as a person.
- I love that
he anticipated it enough
to go get them beforehand
and have it.
- Yeah, he was really
prepared.
- Yeah.
I love that.
[moody music]
- Well, that's on you.
- That's on...me? For--
- I don't know what
I'm gonna do without you.
- Hey, I'm always
going to be there.
- I'm here, too,
just so you know.
Don't worry.
- You feeling left out?
- [laughs]
- Little bit.
- Come here.
- Aw. I love you guys.
[door hinges squeaking]
- Mom?
Mom?
Mom!
[huffs]
Like, I can't even find her.
[sighs]
[paper rustling]
- Congratulations.
- Thank you!
[laughter]
I mean, like, I can't
afford it right now,
so I'm gonna need to take out
a loan or something.
- Hey. Today, you don't have
to think about that, OK?
- OK.
- OK.
- OK.
- OK.
God.
Does your mom drink wine?
- Uh, yeah. I think so.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- OK, one second.
I don't drink, but I
got a bunch of bottles
on the one-year anniversary.
I guess people
were trying to be nice.
[sighs]
Hopefully your mother
can make better use of it.
- Oh, wow.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Are you doing all right?
- Yeah.
You know, I'm OK.
- Yeah.
I just miss him, you know?
- Yeah, I miss him, too.
Uh, do you think
you'll keep coaching?
- Hmm.
I never thought I'd be
a basketball coach.
Um...
Tyler pushed me to do it.
I think he wanted
to spend more time together,
until he met you.
And then he never wanted
to spend time with me.
- [laughs] I know.
I think I--I think
I got him more in the end.
- Pffft. I wouldn't have
changed a thing.
Not one thing.
That's for your mother.
- Yes.
- Your mother.
- Yes, yes.
OK. Yes.
[laughs] I promise.
- OK.
- Thank you.
[soft music]
- Do you think you can make
it, like, a little longer?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's cute. That's cute.
- It's super spacey.
- Oh, extremely spacey.
Alien vibe.
- Absolutely.
- Yeah, I really--I do
hope you like the glitter,
'cause there's no way
that's ever coming off.
- Yeah, I'll just live
with it forever.
- Yeah, that's it.
Ooh, speaking of, like,
space alien things, I got...
this.
- How cute!
- And it's perfect 'cause
you've got the space buns too.
- Oh, that looks so good.
Wait.
Let me make it
straight and then--
- Yeah, yeah.
Fix it for me.
Thank you.
- Yeah. That looks so good!
- I know. It's got--
it's the best movement ever.
- That looks awesome.
It's so cute.
[excited chatter]
[laughter]
- [laughs]
Hey, listen, it's the end
of your high school career
tonight, but...
believe me, it's just the
beginning for each of you.
God, it's just the beginning.
[sighs]
And we've talked all year
about setting goals
and seeing what
you're going towards.
So what I'd like to do tonight
is to go around in a circle,
and I want each of you
to tell your brothers
what you're hoping for.
All right.
Let's start with Isaiah.
- So, uh, after high school,
I want to pursue accounting,
you know,
and make my parents proud.
- Crunch some numbers.
Um, after high school,
I'm just trying to, uh,
meet new people,
start a family, uh,
get more friends--
the more people, the better.
- We're not good enough?
[laughter]
- I just want to go to
college, do my dream
of being an engineer, like,
a realtor, you know,
just make good money,
make my people proud.
- I'm not sure.
I don't know
what I'm gonna do,
but I just want to
make my family proud,
live a good life.
That's really all I care
about.
- Let's bring it in
for prayer.
Let's lock arms.
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you
for your many blessings.
Thank you for
bringing us together.
And I want to thank you for
bringing each of these boys
into my life.
I'm so blessed.
We pray tonight
that we make you
and Tyler and Zane proud
with our play.
May it please you and them.
In Jesus's name.
Amen.
- Amen.
- All right.
Lewis on three!
- One, two, three.
- Lewis!
- Four, five, six.
- Family!
- All right!
- Love you, Coach.
- Love you, Coach.
- Coach.
[crowd cheering]
- Whoa.
Nice one.
- Oh.
No!
[cheering]
[crowd shouting]
[cheering]
- You nailed it.
Easy.
[spectators shouting]
Move it.
Move it.
Take it, take it!
[cheering]
[buzzer blares]
- If you get fouled,
go to line.
Take your time.
Easy. Take--
you got all the time
in the world, all right?
Move the ball.
Let's do it.
Let's do it.
One, two, three.
Break!
[cheering]
Yeah! All right.
All right!
[crowd cheering]
[buzzer blares]
[crowd cheering]
[stirring music]
- Come on!
[all shouting]
- What's the score?
- 65-63.
[cheering]
- Tyler on three.
Zane on six.
One, two, three.
- Tyler!
- Four, five, six.
- Zane!
- [laughs]
[cheering fades]
- What?
- Nothing!
I just think it's cool.
- OK, well, I think
we need to seriously talk
about what you consider cool.
- I didn't get my degree
until I was in my 30s.
I think it's very cool.
- Seriously, Mom--
- I am so excited for you!
- I--more than words.
I'm driving!
- I know.
I pay attention.
- [sighs]
- Good to go.
[zips]
- Thanks.
- Go ahead and put your
things on the table.
- Here to see Ms. Vicki.
- OK.
Go ahead and sign in
for me, please.
- Thanks.
- OK, here you go.
- Ohh...
So what--what's next for you?
- Uh, you're looking at it.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
[laughs]
- So does it feel back
to normal for you, or--
- You know, I think
that we just have to
find a new normal,
one that works for us.
Then we go from there.
- Yeah.
Yeah, you're right.
- We're on our way.
[soft, stirring music]
- Good night, man.
- Good night, bro.
[zips]
[exhales]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
[phone dings]
- Hey, man.
We did it.
We graduated.
I'm about to go
over to Gen's house
and celebrate
and get into whatever
crazy shit they got planned.
I know you're gonna
be there in spirit.
I just, um...
I just wish
you were here for real.
I miss you, man.
We all do.
- Hey, Tyler.
Um, well, we're all
thinking of you today.
Everyone's all dressed up,
[laughs]
and we look like an ocean
with all the blue.
Uh, I wish you could see it.
You'd, uh, you were
always a jokester,
so I know that you'd make
fun of it in a great way.
Um, we're all gonna raise
a glass for you tonight.
We're gonna celebrate you.
[gentle music]
[background chatter]
- Hey!
[laughs]
How you feel?
I'm so proud of you.
- [exhales]
Oh, this is for you.
It was a shared effort,
for sure.
[laughs]
Thank you.
[soft, emotional music]
- Watch your finger.
- Watch it.
- This the last one?
- Uh, I think so.
I'm gonna do a once-over.
- Oh, we need to leave
before rush hour.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Let's play tag.
- OK.
- Let's go!
- I'm already it?
- Yeah.
[laughs]
- Gotcha!
You're it!
- [laughs]
- Careful.
Izzie, where'd you go?
There you are!
- [laughs] You're too slow.
[chatter]
John's here.
Let's race.
- What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
- [laughs]
- What are you doing?
Yeah.
- Daddy!
- I got you!
- [laughs]
- I'm not it!
You're it!
- Yeah.
- Are you sure
it's not this way?
- Yeah.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
- You ready to go?
You ready to go?
- Yeah?
- All right.
Hey.
- Hi.
- I, um, I left something
in his room for you.
The door's open, OK?
- Yeah.
- OK.
[birds chirping]
[uplifting piano music]
- Here we go.
- Vegetables.
- Thank you.
- Good.
Things that
aren't vegetables.
[chatter]
[laughs]
[chatter]
- Oh, thanks.
I'll take it.
[chatter continues]
[laughs] I don't know
who put that in there.
[soft, anticipatory music]
[soft music]
[vocalizing]
Endless joy
Endless summer
Endless summer
Endless joy
Endless summer
[vocalizing]
I will hold
Your joy
I will hold
Your pain
I will hold
Your joy
I will hold
Your pain
[vocalizing]
[uneasy muted chords]
[footsteps clacking]
[uneasy muted chords
continue]
[distant overlapping chatter]
[chatter grows louder]
[soft, light music]
- Have a good one.
[electronic ding]
- Morning, guys.
I'm glad you're here.
We're gonna work on our
college application essays.
Don't forget to write about
yourself, who you truly are.
Don't try to be fake or phony.
You know, just say
who you sincerely are
as a human being and a person.
Write about, um, what
college you want to get into.
But also, don't forget
to write about
if this college accepts you,
why you would
enhance that college
and why they would be
happy to have you, too.
- Have you thought about what
you want to do next year?
- I'm taking a gap year.
I don't know.
I just need a break.
- Yeah.
I think that you should
apply to schools anyway.
You never know
how you're gonna feel
at the end of the year.
You know, getting through
the first year mark,
that's a really big deal.
So you can exhale for
a minute,
'cause you've almost
done that.
Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- But I feel like
it's really hard
to know where you want to go,
because if you don't get in,
then you're like
a public failure.
- Yeah, but you're
gonna get in, so you
won't have that problem.
- You don't know that.
- I just think
it's better than not knowing.
Then you can always just
choose where you want to
live and go from there.
- So who cares if you
don't go next year, anyway?
It's pay to win--you could be
like 100 years old
and still not go
whenever you want.
- And I don't want
to pay to win.
- Well...
- Also, what if I get in
just 'cause I'm a "Lewis" kid?
I don't want that.
Like, I don't want that
to be a whole part of my--
- Your entire being?
- Yes, exactly.
Thank you.
- [chuckles]
- [laughs] OK, OK.
No, that's not fair!
[laughter]
[laughs]
- All right.
[sneakers squeak on floor]
- Hey.
- [laughs] All right.
Bring it in, bring it in,
bring it in.
Bring it in, bring it in.
[applause]
Really, really good
intensity, boys.
Let's bring that same energy
back here tomorrow, all right?
Austin, take us out.
- Hey, Lewis on three.
One, two, three!
- Lewis!
[applause]
- Robbie.
- Yeah, Coach?
- What's up?
Are you all right?
- Um, Mara and I broke up.
- I'm sorry.
- She's trying to
stay friends,
but it's just complicated.
You know?
- Yeah.
Listen, do something
fun tonight, OK?
See some friends.
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- Yeah, Coach.
- [sighs]
[bell tolling]
- You know,
when I speak to the students,
I'm so impressed
with how they're
taking care of each other
and how they're coming
together with the faculty
and the members
of the community.
We are all grieving with you.
The entire country
is grieving with you.
And I know that we've all
been mourning and grieving
every day since the loss
of six beautiful lives
to a horrific act of violence
one year ago.
One year.
It's hard to imagine that--
that that is a measurable
amount of time at all, right?
One year.
But I promise you something.
The demands of everyday life
will intrude again.
Some of you may go off
to college in the fall.
The seasons
are going to change,
and the sun is going to rise.
And all we'll have left
is each other.
- Look who I found.
- Hi.
- Hey.
- Um...when, uh,
when'd you get here?
- Oh, last week.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Holidays?
- Yeah, something like that.
That's right.
- Are you hungry?
- I'm hungry, and we haven't
seen you in forever,
so let's go get some food.
Come on.
- Let's go.
- Are you serious?
- She just dropped it
on me, like, once.
- [laughs]
Your mom's so funny.
- Yeah.
- Ready?
- To Tyler!
[laughter]
- I mean, he legitimately
loved chicken nuggets.
- You know what else
he loved, though?
- Inside Out.
- Inside Out.
- Jinx. You owe me a Coke.
- Lily thought that was
the greatest film of all time.
- Oh, yeah.
- Oh.
- It kind of is, though.
- Are you kidding me?
- Hmm.
- [murmurs].
- So Ben, how do you
like your new school?
- Oh, uh, it's good.
It's just different, you know?
So...
- I mean, our basketball team
sucks ass without you.
- Yeah.
You still playing at
Jefferson, by the way?
- No, I don't...
[chuckles]
I don't--
I don't do that anymore.
- OK.
Milkshakes on me.
Who's in?
- OK.
- Got it?
- I'll help you carry them.
- Yeah, OK.
[pop music in background]
- [small laugh]
You OK?
- You ready to go?
- I'll walk you home.
- Oh.
- If that's cool.
- Yeah, yeah. Sure.
- I'm thinking about taking
a road trip this summer.
- Really?
Where would you go?
- Mm-mm.
It could be anywhere--
Louisiana, Georgia,
Tennessee, Yellowstone,
Houston.
- Tyler always wanted
to go to Yellowstone.
- Yeah.
We always talked about
doing a road trip together.
I just feel guilty
taking it without him.
You don't feel that?
- What do you mean?
- I don't know.
- Yeah, I, um, I felt bad
getting my license.
- Yeah, and, like,
celebrating my birthday.
- Yeah.
- Just waking up
every morning,
it's like he's supposed to
be here.
[sighs]
- So did it help?
- What?
- Transferring.
- Oh...
[light laugh]
About that, uh...
I, um...
I dropped out.
- What! Why?
- One of my teachers told me
I could just study for my GED
instead of coming to school,
so I was like, all right.
I'm out.
- What, so you--so you're
like really back then
for good?
- Yeah, yeah.
Got my old job at
Canella's and everything.
You know, I'm just gonna
take care of my moms for now.
Everybody
been taking care of me, so...
I hope that's OK.
- No, no.
Yeah, that's good.
And um...I'm glad you're here.
- [chuckles]
Hmm.
- [inhales, exhales]
[soft, stirring music]
- Thanks.
- Got you.
I got you.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
- Yeah.
- That's-that's--thank you.
- Of course.
- OK.
So you toasted the almonds?
- Yeah, I toasted the almonds.
- So throw those in
the bowl with the parsley.
- Throw almonds in the bowl
[spoon scraping]
with the parsley.
- OK?
- OK.
- And the garlic.
- Add garlic.
Hold on.
- OK.
All right, now
we're gonna set that aside
and let it chill,
and when the pasta's done,
we're gonna toss it.
And voila. Easy.
- Let it chill--my favorite
culinary technique.
- John, you know,
if you move to Houston,
we can make these
kind of recipes together.
- I love you.
Can we talk about this later?
I love you.
- John, the water!
The water!
Behind you.
- Shit, shit.
Ow! Jesus!
[huffs]
All right.
I'm sorry. I better go.
[child laughs]
Hey!
You're supposed to be in bed!
You're supposed
to be in bed!
- Love you!
- Bye. [kiss]
- Bye. Good night.
- Good night.
[soft chime]
[sighs]
- All right.
I'm outta here.
Make sure everything's
done, all right?
- [sighs]
[whispering] Ah, fuck!
[traffic noise]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
- Um...
Uh...
hey, buddy.
Thinking about you
extra today.
Missing you.
Yeah, you wouldn't believe
how nasty Vince has gotten
in his old age.
You're lucky you don't
got to deal with that shit.
Not that it was any better
than when you were here.
He's still the same
old asshole, I guess.
[distant clattering
in background]
I guess I'll talk
to you later, man.
Bye.
Love you.
[overlapping chatter]
- We know technology
has put the world forward
in many, many ways.
We have to see the converse
effects of that also.
You know, we can't
Auto-Tune humanity.
We can't let technology
become between us
feeling and seeing and
loving each other, all right?
So for this weekend, try this.
Go home, turn off your phone.
Walk over to
your friend's house,
knock on the door, and sit
down and have a conversation
eye-to-eye and face-to-face.
[electronic chime]
[chiming]
Gen, how you doing?
- Good.
How are you?
- This is the last
four assignments
you haven't got done.
Can you kinda
the best effort in
and try to get these done
by Monday,
over the weekend, please?
It's really important.
You need to get this done
for your education.
I know you can do it.
Can you make this
a priority, please?
- Yeah. Uh, yeah.
I can.
- All right, good.
- For sure.
Thank you.
- All right. Be safe.
All right?
- Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
[door hinges squeak]
[microwave beeps]
- [sighs]
- Gen?
What is that?
- Nothing.
- Genevieve.
- I fucked up, OK?
I fucked up my only chance
to get out of here,
so you can punish me
however you want.
[paper rustles]
- I don't want to punish you.
I want you to talk to me.
- I do talk to you.
- No, you don't talk to me.
- Yes, I do!
- Look, I--
[sighs]
I think that we make
a really good team together,
don't you?
- Yes. I know that, Mom.
- OK. So...
What do you think about
the two of us
going and talking
to somebody together?
- Mom, I have my friends
to talk to.
I don't have to talk to some,
like, random stranger.
- It's not a random stranger.
It's somebody...
- It's the same thing!
- Who understands
what you're going through
and can help--
- No one understands
what I'm going through!
- Well, w-w-when you talk
to your friends, do you--
do you talk about
everything that
you guys have been through?
- No!
That's the point, Mom!
No one knows
how to talk about it.
[sighs]
- [sighs]
I just want you to have
an easier life than I did.
- OK. So now what?
Are you disappointed?
Well, join the fucking club.
Thank you, Mom.
- [sighs]
[paper rustles]
- [sighs]
[distant insects chirping]
[uneven breathing]
[inhales]
[distant insects chirping]
[soft guitar music]
- Ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Everyone
Keeps asking about you
They wanna know
How can I be
Without...
[engine starts]
[gentle music]
[no sound]
[music continues]
[sneakers squeak on floor]
[background chatter]
- Switch that.
Good eye.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
- Let's try
better next time.
Here you go.
- Thank you.
Nice job.
Genevieve, nice job.
- Thank you.
- What's up, Ben?
Ben!
[laughs]
- No shit!
- [laughs]
- Oh! Hey, Ms. Vicki.
How you doing?
- Oh, my God!
Oh, you're a sight
for sore eyes.
Ben, this is a Orien.
- Oh.
Hey, buddy.
- Can you say hi, Ben?
- Hi, Ben.
- [laughs] How's Jefferson?
- Oh, um...
I'm, uh, actually going
to get my GED this summer.
- Well, I hope you can
make it to graduation.
- Oh, yeah.
I'm thinking about it.
- You know,
if you're planning on taking
your GED this summer, then you
might as well finish by May.
That way you can
walk with your class.
It would probably mean
a lot to your old teachers.
I know it would mean
a lot to me.
- OK.
I'll think about that.
Thank you, Ms. V.
- I'm gonna save a cap
and gown for you, OK?
- [chuckles]
[pop music]
- Oh, my God.
I can't believe
you still have this!
- You want it?
- No, this's definitely yours.
- The night
was a complete disaster.
- Yeah. I mean, everything
that could have
possibly gone wrong
went wrong.
- Yeah.
You're right about that one.
- Do you still talk to Jeff?
- What do you think?
- Hmm.
Did you date anybody
at Jefferson?
- Yeah.
- Tell me about her.
- Hell, no.
- Oh, come on!
- No. I'm--
I'm not doing it.
- Why?
- 'Cause there's
nothing to talk about.
- Please?
- No.
- We could just, like,
sit here in silence...
- No, I-I--
- I guess.
No, it's fine.
I can go a long time.
- Fine.
[whispering] Oh,
you're so fucking annoying.
- I know.
- Um...where do I start?
- From the beginning.
- OK. Um...
her name was Gabby.
- Hmm.
- She was really pretty.
- Hmm.
- Senior.
- Nice.
- And, um...
she was in
my sports medicine class.
That's how we met.
Shit. I don't know.
She was, um...
she's great with people.
But I guess I was just
a lot, so...
that's that.
[pop music continues
in background]
[soft, moody music]
- [laughs] We're those
obnoxious spring breakers,
aren't we?
- Those houses are nice.
- Oh, yeah.
- Those ones right there?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I like that one.
No, no, no, no.
- This one?
- That one.
[indistinct chatter]
- What time?
[laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter, chatter]
- Why would you say that?
- You've been away for too
long to make that joke.
- I know.
You shouldn't say that.
- Ah, it's right there.
- Oh.
- Man, so you were
saying, like--
- No. Wait.
Wait. Beck.
- Becker.
- Becker!
Becker!
- Cannonball!
[water splashes]
- Becker!
[laughter]
That is so terrible!
- You just screwed yourself
over.
- Why?
- You just did.
- What? He can't get me.
- He's way faster than you.
- He can't get--no, he can't.
He's not!
- Becker, I'm coming for you.
[laughter]
- You better not ruin
my Zen right now.
[laughter]
[indistinct chatter]
- Guys, I'm getting,
like, kind of wrinkly.
I think that's my cue.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- All wrinkly.
[birds chirping]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
- Hey, man.
This is stupid.
I know you won't get this,
but, um, somehow, you--
you might.
Look, it's, uh,
it's just been really hard
doing this without you.
I feel like you deserve
this way more than I do.
[chatter]
[basketball players shouting]
- Move it. Move it!
[basketball players shouting]
- Aw!
[cheering]
- Come on!
Let's go, let's go.
[players shouting]
[buzzer blares]
[players shouting]
- Forget tonight.
Didn't happen.
Don't take it
home with you, OK?
We got one more game left.
We're gonna bring
the whole school out,
and we're gonna make 'em
proud.
All right?
- Yes, Coach.
- All right?
- Yes, Coach!
- All right.
Austin, take us out.
- Hey, Lewis on three.
One, two, three.
- Lewis!
- All right.
Come here.
[chatter]
[pop music]
- You say you never
go far
You talk of
nothing going on
But this time
Oh, this time
This time
Oh, this time
- See you there.
I gotta go.
Katie.
- Hi.
- Are you guys gonna make it?
- Uh...
- It'd mean a lot
to Coach, so...
- Yeah, we'll be there.
- OK.
- Also, congrats, Romie.
- Thanks.
[murmuring]
[both laugh]
- OK.
- Basketball kids are weird.
[both giggling]
- They make cute fires,
though.
- Oh, my gosh.
That was so sweet.
- I'll see you later, OK?
- Take this one.
Hi.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How are you?
- I'm good.
Are you coming?
- Yeah.
Um, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'm gonna come.
- Great. Great.
We miss you.
- I know.
I'm sorry.
- Oh, no.
I didn't mean it--
- No, I know.
But I-I'm gonna
be there for sure.
- Good.
I'm-I'm so glad.
- Um, so I'll--
I'll see you there.
Yeah?
- OK.
- OK.
- OK, bye.
[phone buzzes]
[chatter]
- Yeah, I can't
do this right now.
I will pick you up later,
yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- Cool.
- Bye.
- Bye.
See ya.
- [sighs]
- Are you having a good time?
- Oh, shit.
Is that my
motherfucking brother?
- What the hell's
going on, bro?
- Hey, man.
- How you doing?
Hey, I'm gonna catch up
with you, a'ight?
- All right.
- Get in here, bro!
- Oh, my God.
Hey, Ben!
This is Fiona.
She's a sophomore.
- Hey.
Nice to meet you.
- This is Ben.
He's an absolute legend
at Lewis.
- Oh, really?
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
Listen, listen, listen,
listen.
- [laughs]
- My boy--my boy here took us
to the state championship
two years in a row!
[laughter]
So come on!
- We have to get a picture.
- Get in here.
Get in here.
- Oh my gosh.
- All right, ready?
Three, two, one.
Oh!
- Ooh!
- That's so cute.
That's so cute!
- Aw!
Oh, my God!
[laughs]
- All right.
Hey, we'll see ya.
- All right, bye, guys.
[laughs]
- Yo, Fiona wants you, dog!
Hey, you should definitely
get on that, man.
- Hey, man,
come on right now.
- Come on.
Let's get you a beer, bro.
- No, you go ahead.
- No? Come on, come on.
Just one, bro,
for old time's sakes.
Come on.
Come on!
[low chatter, laughter]
- Come on, now.
Come on, now.
[indistinct chatter]
[laughter]
- Hey, man. Hey.
Listen, listen, listen.
I just miss this shit, bro.
Goddamn, we still
have to see you, man.
Hey, hey.
- Romie!
- Hey!
[mellow music]
- [laughs] Hi.
- I was waiting for you guys.
- I know. I'm sorry.
[indistinct chatter]
Is it gonna be wild in here?
[laughs]
- Well, go crazy, guys.
- You know what,
I'm gonna be right back.
[chatter]
- [laughs]
- Oh. [coughs] Oh, shit.
Hey, uh, we--
we're gonna to, uh,
Kendrick's house in a minute.
You...you wanna come?
- Do you want me to come?
- Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
- I'm going home.
- Gen, Gen.
Come on, come on.
The night is fresh.
Please, don't make me
[muttering]
- Just stop!
Where did you go?
- I'm right here!
- I'm not talking
about right now.
I'm talking about
the last year.
You didn't call me
after you left!
OK, you give me this
feeling like you could
just drop me
at any point in time
and it doesn't matter for you.
You're doing it right now.
- Listen, I'm--
I'm fucked up.
- No.
- You don't get to do that.
- Do what?
- You don't get to act like
your pain is more than mine!
- Gen--
- You don't get to act like
you're hurting more than me!
You don't get to do that!
[moody music]
- Fuck!
[whispering]
Fuck, fuck.
Yeah, yeah.
[inaudible]
[soft, moody music]
[softly] Oh, my--
[sniffling]
[birds chirping]
[soft, emotional music]
- We're getting down to the
final end of the school year
with only a few weeks to go.
I don't want you guys to start
getting senioritis, all right?
I just want you guys to start
what you finished.
We're almost to
the mountaintop.
Just keep on climbing.
Don't give up, OK?
- Sorry.
- Congrats.
- Now coming up, we have
our last assignment.
And since we're
studying the Greeks,
I thought this would be
an apropos question
towards the end here
of school.
Socrates said "an unexamined
life is not worth living."
So our last assignment to be:
to write an essay
[alarm blares]
about what our life--
oh, it's just a drill.
It's just a drill.
Head towards the door, please.
Head towards the door.
It's just a drill.
Good job.
Here we go.
[alarm blares]
[muffled gunshots]
[muted alarm echoes]
[muted echoing shouts]
[shouting continues, fades]
[uneasy muted chords]
- Is everything
all right with you?
- Yeah.
[background chatter]
- Hey, why didn't you
tell me what happened?
- What are you talking about?
- Between you and Ben.
- [chuckles] Nothing happened.
- [laughs]
You are the worst liar!
- OK, well,
if you know
everything already,
then why are you
even asking me?
Like, I don't have to
tell you everything
that happens to me in my life.
- Yeah--
like, you don't have to.
- Why didn't you tell me
you got into school?
- That's different.
- Why?
- 'Cause...
I don't--
I don't know, OK?
It just--it is.
I love you.
I just--I couldn't tell you.
- "To picture
is not to remember.
"As a recollection
becomes actual,
"it comes to live in an image,
but the converse is not true.
"And the image,
pure and simple,
"will not be referred
to the past
unless, indeed, it was in
the past that I sought it."
- Bergson's text
is so significant
for a number of reasons,
including the idea
that memory is not simply
a mechanical reproduction
of the past
but more like an image
coming into focus.
Without memory, life is quite
literally devoid of meaning.
[electronic chime]
Everyone bring their
cameras up to the front.
And please, remember to
clean your cubbies out.
I will throw out anything
that's left behind.
- You have to promise me that
you won't stop doing this,
even in college.
- You don't have to
worry about that.
I didn't get in anywhere.
- NYU?
Oh.
Well, that's their loss.
- Yeah. Well, now,
I don't know what's next.
- Just because somebody knows
what college they're going to
doesn't mean they know
what's happening next.
We're all going
into the unknown.
We just have to
keep moving forward.
[soft, moody music]
[tentative notes]
[quiet chords]
[soft, emotional music]
- [sighs]
- What's this?
- Everybody has one.
They use it to get
into the school,
and then you can get
into all your classes.
- Damn, that's crazy.
- Yup.
- So does it feel any safer?
- You know
it's still there, right?
- What?
- The 1,100 [inaudible].
- Mm-mm.
Mm-mm.
No, I didn't--hmm.
[sniffling]
I didn't know that.
You know, um...
you were right
about the other night.
I don't know what
you were going through.
- No, I didn't
mean it like that. I--
- I wasn't there!
I wasn't there, OK?
And I--
I just keep
thinking about it like,
how come I missed that day?
Out of all the days,
I skipped that day,
and I should have
been there, you know?
I-I felt like
I could have went
to the bathroom, or--
or--or I could have
saw something in the hallways.
I could have
done something, Gen!
- Slow down.
Look at me.
- I c--
- OK? Look at me.
- I could have done
something, Gen.
- Look at me.
[sniffling]
- I'm glad you weren't there.
OK?
- [moans]
It's OK.
It's OK, come here.
- [whimpers, gasps]
- It's OK.
- [sobs] I'm sorry.
- It's OK.
- [sobs] I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
- I know.
- I'm so sorry.
I don't--
- I know.
- [sniffs, crying]
I don't know anymore.
- It's OK.
- [sobs]
- I know.
It's OK.
[whispering] It's OK.
[sobs]
[soft gasps]
[sobbing]
[gasping]
[sobbing]
[gasping]
[sobs]
[somber music]
- You'll be in a group
with kids your age.
Um, we sit in a circle,
um, just like this.
And we say our name, who died,
how our person died.
And there's always
a question of the night,
just depending on
what we're doing.
I really, um, feel like the
sharing place can help you,
um, not only to, um,
be with other kids
that are experiencing
some of the--
a lot of the same emotions
that you're-you're feeling,
but also for you, Maggie.
The parent group is wonderful,
because you get to work
partly on your grief
and then also, um, you know,
the other parents
will, um, also
be talking about
what's happening
in their home
with their child,
and you just learn
a lot of, um, different ways
to help her at home, so...
- My name's Ruby.
My dad died, um,
from an aortic dissection.
- Um, my name is Genevieve.
My boyfriend, Tyler, died.
And he was shot with
a gun at our school.
- All right.
Our check-in question tonight.
Um, we want to talk
about big feelings.
Um, so let's talk about--
the question I want you to
answer when you're ready
is, what is a big moment
that you anticipate
coming up in your life
where you're really gonna
miss your person?
- Yeah, I can go.
Um, so my grandpa loved the
idea of me going to college.
It's something
that he never did,
and he was one of
the most excited
people when we found out
that I was going to college.
So I think, you know,
the idea of passing
my first exam
and graduating college at some
point and moving on from it,
it's these things
I don't get to experience
with him anymore.
So it's just--it just
feels sad not to have him
in that part of my life.
- Um...
I graduate next week.
And...he is supposed to
be graduating with me,
and he's not.
So I think that's something
I'm really gonna miss him for.
- Yeah, I guess just getting
advice and knowing what to do.
Like, I haven't even
started dating yet,
but I think he'd be good.
Like, oh, Ruby, don't date
that guy 'cause he's scary.
So, you know,
[light laughter]
it'd be nice to
have that sort of, like,
just protection, I guess.
Yeah.
- You're saying his
protection, his advice,
even just his presence.
- Yes.
- Things are different
without him there.
- So much different.
- He's sometimes--
it feels like he--
he's angry, but I don't
know what he's angry at.
- OK.
- You know?
And is he gonna hurt himself?
Do I need to stay up all night
and make sure he's OK?
Like, those are
the things that I have
a hard time with, because
you just can't gauge that.
Because it's so--
they won't open up.
He won't open up to me.
- I think I asked him
to do a British accent
'cause he
never would do that.
And for the first time,
he did it, and he was like,
[British accent]
what's wrong with being sexy?
[laughter]
And then we watched,
like, a bunch of videos
about "Spinal Tap" and
"Best in Show" and stuff.
- I feel like our funny
stories of our person
often have a really good
insight into who they were.
Um, people often ask me
what my mom was like,
and I say, let me
tell you this story.
I came home from
a date one night,
and my parents
had waited up for me.
And my dad,
as I walked in the door,
said,
"You were out pretty late.
That boy better not
have been kissing you."
And my mom smacked him
and said,
"If he had out that late,
he'd better have kissed you."
[laughter]
"Come in and tell me
about it."
And I just love that I
was so safe with her.
And she knew that--um,
but she was so funny.
So I feel like telling these
stories about our people
really help people connect
with them, and I love that.
- He loved chicken nuggets
more than anything
I've ever seen in my life.
I mean, it was crazy,
like, unreasonable.
And one time, I caught him
keep going to his backpack,
and I didn't know why,
and he had a little bag
of chicken nuggets
in his backpack
that he was eating while
we were eating dinner,
because he didn't want to
eat the, like, asparagus
or whatever my mom made.
And I feel like that kind
of sums him up as a person.
- I love that
he anticipated it enough
to go get them beforehand
and have it.
- Yeah, he was really
prepared.
- Yeah.
I love that.
[moody music]
- Well, that's on you.
- That's on...me? For--
- I don't know what
I'm gonna do without you.
- Hey, I'm always
going to be there.
- I'm here, too,
just so you know.
Don't worry.
- You feeling left out?
- [laughs]
- Little bit.
- Come here.
- Aw. I love you guys.
[door hinges squeaking]
- Mom?
Mom?
Mom!
[huffs]
Like, I can't even find her.
[sighs]
[paper rustling]
- Congratulations.
- Thank you!
[laughter]
I mean, like, I can't
afford it right now,
so I'm gonna need to take out
a loan or something.
- Hey. Today, you don't have
to think about that, OK?
- OK.
- OK.
- OK.
- OK.
God.
Does your mom drink wine?
- Uh, yeah. I think so.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- OK, one second.
I don't drink, but I
got a bunch of bottles
on the one-year anniversary.
I guess people
were trying to be nice.
[sighs]
Hopefully your mother
can make better use of it.
- Oh, wow.
Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Are you doing all right?
- Yeah.
You know, I'm OK.
- Yeah.
I just miss him, you know?
- Yeah, I miss him, too.
Uh, do you think
you'll keep coaching?
- Hmm.
I never thought I'd be
a basketball coach.
Um...
Tyler pushed me to do it.
I think he wanted
to spend more time together,
until he met you.
And then he never wanted
to spend time with me.
- [laughs] I know.
I think I--I think
I got him more in the end.
- Pffft. I wouldn't have
changed a thing.
Not one thing.
That's for your mother.
- Yes.
- Your mother.
- Yes, yes.
OK. Yes.
[laughs] I promise.
- OK.
- Thank you.
[soft music]
- Do you think you can make
it, like, a little longer?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's cute. That's cute.
- It's super spacey.
- Oh, extremely spacey.
Alien vibe.
- Absolutely.
- Yeah, I really--I do
hope you like the glitter,
'cause there's no way
that's ever coming off.
- Yeah, I'll just live
with it forever.
- Yeah, that's it.
Ooh, speaking of, like,
space alien things, I got...
this.
- How cute!
- And it's perfect 'cause
you've got the space buns too.
- Oh, that looks so good.
Wait.
Let me make it
straight and then--
- Yeah, yeah.
Fix it for me.
Thank you.
- Yeah. That looks so good!
- I know. It's got--
it's the best movement ever.
- That looks awesome.
It's so cute.
[excited chatter]
[laughter]
- [laughs]
Hey, listen, it's the end
of your high school career
tonight, but...
believe me, it's just the
beginning for each of you.
God, it's just the beginning.
[sighs]
And we've talked all year
about setting goals
and seeing what
you're going towards.
So what I'd like to do tonight
is to go around in a circle,
and I want each of you
to tell your brothers
what you're hoping for.
All right.
Let's start with Isaiah.
- So, uh, after high school,
I want to pursue accounting,
you know,
and make my parents proud.
- Crunch some numbers.
Um, after high school,
I'm just trying to, uh,
meet new people,
start a family, uh,
get more friends--
the more people, the better.
- We're not good enough?
[laughter]
- I just want to go to
college, do my dream
of being an engineer, like,
a realtor, you know,
just make good money,
make my people proud.
- I'm not sure.
I don't know
what I'm gonna do,
but I just want to
make my family proud,
live a good life.
That's really all I care
about.
- Let's bring it in
for prayer.
Let's lock arms.
Dear Heavenly Father,
thank you
for your many blessings.
Thank you for
bringing us together.
And I want to thank you for
bringing each of these boys
into my life.
I'm so blessed.
We pray tonight
that we make you
and Tyler and Zane proud
with our play.
May it please you and them.
In Jesus's name.
Amen.
- Amen.
- All right.
Lewis on three!
- One, two, three.
- Lewis!
- Four, five, six.
- Family!
- All right!
- Love you, Coach.
- Love you, Coach.
- Coach.
[crowd cheering]
- Whoa.
Nice one.
- Oh.
No!
[cheering]
[crowd shouting]
[cheering]
- You nailed it.
Easy.
[spectators shouting]
Move it.
Move it.
Take it, take it!
[cheering]
[buzzer blares]
- If you get fouled,
go to line.
Take your time.
Easy. Take--
you got all the time
in the world, all right?
Move the ball.
Let's do it.
Let's do it.
One, two, three.
Break!
[cheering]
Yeah! All right.
All right!
[crowd cheering]
[buzzer blares]
[crowd cheering]
[stirring music]
- Come on!
[all shouting]
- What's the score?
- 65-63.
[cheering]
- Tyler on three.
Zane on six.
One, two, three.
- Tyler!
- Four, five, six.
- Zane!
- [laughs]
[cheering fades]
- What?
- Nothing!
I just think it's cool.
- OK, well, I think
we need to seriously talk
about what you consider cool.
- I didn't get my degree
until I was in my 30s.
I think it's very cool.
- Seriously, Mom--
- I am so excited for you!
- I--more than words.
I'm driving!
- I know.
I pay attention.
- [sighs]
- Good to go.
[zips]
- Thanks.
- Go ahead and put your
things on the table.
- Here to see Ms. Vicki.
- OK.
Go ahead and sign in
for me, please.
- Thanks.
- OK, here you go.
- Ohh...
So what--what's next for you?
- Uh, you're looking at it.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
[laughs]
- So does it feel back
to normal for you, or--
- You know, I think
that we just have to
find a new normal,
one that works for us.
Then we go from there.
- Yeah.
Yeah, you're right.
- We're on our way.
[soft, stirring music]
- Good night, man.
- Good night, bro.
[zips]
[exhales]
- It's Tyler.
I don't check my messages,
so deal with it.
[phone dings]
- Hey, man.
We did it.
We graduated.
I'm about to go
over to Gen's house
and celebrate
and get into whatever
crazy shit they got planned.
I know you're gonna
be there in spirit.
I just, um...
I just wish
you were here for real.
I miss you, man.
We all do.
- Hey, Tyler.
Um, well, we're all
thinking of you today.
Everyone's all dressed up,
[laughs]
and we look like an ocean
with all the blue.
Uh, I wish you could see it.
You'd, uh, you were
always a jokester,
so I know that you'd make
fun of it in a great way.
Um, we're all gonna raise
a glass for you tonight.
We're gonna celebrate you.
[gentle music]
[background chatter]
- Hey!
[laughs]
How you feel?
I'm so proud of you.
- [exhales]
Oh, this is for you.
It was a shared effort,
for sure.
[laughs]
Thank you.
[soft, emotional music]
- Watch your finger.
- Watch it.
- This the last one?
- Uh, I think so.
I'm gonna do a once-over.
- Oh, we need to leave
before rush hour.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Let's play tag.
- OK.
- Let's go!
- I'm already it?
- Yeah.
[laughs]
- Gotcha!
You're it!
- [laughs]
- Careful.
Izzie, where'd you go?
There you are!
- [laughs] You're too slow.
[chatter]
John's here.
Let's race.
- What are you doing?
What are you doing?
What are you doing?
- [laughs]
- What are you doing?
Yeah.
- Daddy!
- I got you!
- [laughs]
- I'm not it!
You're it!
- Yeah.
- Are you sure
it's not this way?
- Yeah.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah.
- You ready to go?
You ready to go?
- Yeah?
- All right.
Hey.
- Hi.
- I, um, I left something
in his room for you.
The door's open, OK?
- Yeah.
- OK.
[birds chirping]
[uplifting piano music]
- Here we go.
- Vegetables.
- Thank you.
- Good.
Things that
aren't vegetables.
[chatter]
[laughs]
[chatter]
- Oh, thanks.
I'll take it.
[chatter continues]
[laughs] I don't know
who put that in there.
[soft, anticipatory music]
[soft music]
[vocalizing]
Endless joy
Endless summer
Endless summer
Endless joy
Endless summer
[vocalizing]
I will hold
Your joy
I will hold
Your pain
I will hold
Your joy
I will hold
Your pain
[vocalizing]